Vol. 15
No. 9
SEPTEMBER 2007
FREE MONTHLY
Dr. Trudie Kibbe Reed President of the Great Bethune-Cookman University
Rich in heritage and a prominent legacy of faith, service, and
scholarship, the Great Bethune-Cookman College is a place
where dreams become reality and where education leads to hope
for a better tomorrow. Dr. Trudie Kibbe Reed has walked in the
footprints of history enlarging the path of success as she journeys
step by step. In a tradition of academic excellence, as the
university’s fifth president and the first woman to serve
in this capacity since its founder, Dr. Mary McLeod
Bethune, Dr. Reed has perpetuated the uniqueness of a
top tier university that both inspires and enriches the
lives of all who work, matriculate or visits.
Dr. Trudie Kibbe Reed assumed the presidency of
Bethune-Cookman College on August 16, 2004 after
a successful career in higher education as both a for-
mer college president and a high ranking
administrator within The United Methodist Church.
She is a student-centered leader, educator, task-mas-
ter, administrator, visionary/transformative leader,
public speaker, motivator, and fund raiser.
As an elementary school student, Dr. Reed became enam-
ored with Bethune-Cookman College after playing the
role of College founder, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, in a
school play. Dr. Reed states: “I never thought I would walk
in the footprints of such a remarkable leader who served as
my role model during my formative years.” Dr. Reed
reminds students to sustain the legacy of faith, scholarship,
and service by giving back to society and engaging in civic
leadership opportu-
nities.
As President, Dr.
Reed is well on
her way to pre-
serving
D r.
Bethune’s legacy
and enhancing the
tradition of academic excellence. To the credit of her
early tenure, the university boost of the following suc-
cesses:
February 2007 – attained University status
August 2006 - Launched a new master’s degree program
in Transformative Leadership
May 2007 - An increased endowment from $25 million to
$43 million
Anticipate opening a new School of Nursing Facility
named for B-CU Trustee Emeritus Dr. L. Gale Lemerand.
Purchased for $1.7M, the facility will provide a commu-
nity based health-care outreach program.
see DR. REED on page 20
All photos this page by John Reeves