Lowry named one of Nashville's Most Admired CEOs
Kim Chaudoin |
Lipscomb University president L. Randolph Lowry was named one of Nashville’s Most Admired CEOs by the Nashville Business Journal at a special presentation Dec. 4 at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center.
Lowry received the honor for his proven ability to lead Lipscomb University through a period of growth and increasing significance in the Nashville community even during a period of economic challenge. Finalists were determined by votes from their peers. Dr. Lowry was selected from among finalists in the institutions category that included Luke Gregory, CEO of Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, and Dr. Wayne Riley, president of Meharry Medical College.
The Nashville Business Journal recognizes top CEOs because it says, “finding a leader who inspires those around him or her is priceless. They hold their employees, products, and services in the highest regard, run their companies with integrity and are shining examples of how all companies should be run and managed.”
“Lowry has worked tirelessly and courageously for the past seven years to lead Lipscomb University. His visionary leadership, love for God, servant heart, integrity and collaborative spirit have inspired this community to make Lipscomb University one of the fastest-growing institutions in the Southeast and into one that is making a difference in the lives of its students, employees and community,” Provost W. Craig Bledsoe said in an email to the Lipscomb community.
Lowry took office as Lipscomb University’s 17th president on Sept. 26, 2005. Connecting the university to the Nashville community has been a hallmark of Lowry’s presidency at Lipscomb.
In September 2005, Lowry proposed Lipscomb 2010, a $54 million plan to dramatically advance Lipscomb's academic programs and to invest in new campus facilities. As a result of Lipscomb 2010, a College of Pharmacy was established creating the first Lipscomb doctorate degree, 38 new undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs were developed and six new institutes were established in conflict management; sustainable practice; law, justice and society; Christian spirituality; corporate governance and integrity; and civic leadership. This plan also included the renovation of several academic and residence buildings on campus. Under Lowry’s leadership, the university has experienced a 70 percent enrollment growth, hired 161 new full-time faculty and has risen through the U.S. News & World Report rankings to an all-time high of 18th for the university.
Lowry has been featured in a variety of national media outlets including on CNN, in Bloomberg Businessweek, the Huffington Post and Washington Monthly as a conflict management expert.
Beyond academics, Lowry is heavily involved in the Nashville community. He is a member of the Agenda for Nashville's Future, the Rotary Club of Nashville and the Middle Tennessee Council of the Boy Scouts of America’s executive committee. He co-chaired the Nashville Mayor’s Green Ribbon Committee and serves on the boards of a variety of community organizations including United Way of Metropolitan Nashville, the American Heart Association and the leadership council for the Nelson and Sue Andrews Institute for Civic Leadership. He was a member of the 2007 class of Leadership Nashville.
Recently, Lowry announced Lipscomb 2016, an initiative to invest $125 million by the university’s 125th anniversary in 2016. The Lipscomb 2016 initiative includes goals to create 20 new academic programs, hire 30 full-time faculty, expand enrollment to 5,000 students, expand the global learning program and to create new satellite locations throughout Middle Tennessee.