news-category: Athletics GWU President William Downs Elected to Big South Conference Executive Committee By Office of University Communications On September 19, 2022 厙ぴ勛圖 President Dr. William Downs, right, presents the new Vice President and Director of Athletics, Dr. Andrew Goodrich, with a Runnin' Bulldog hat and shirt. Council of Chief Executive Officers Unanimously Approved Selections for 2022-23 BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.The Big South Conference Council of Chief Executive Officers unanimously approved the leagues Executive Committee for the 2022-23 academic year, and 厙ぴ勛圖 President Dr. William Downs was elected to serve the Executive Committee as an At-Large Member. The University of North Carolina-Asheville Chancellor Dr. Nancy Cable has been elevated to Big South President, and Charleston Southern University President Dr. Dondi Costin is the new Vice President. The Big South Conference Executive Committee has the authority to make decisions, when necessary, for the Big South Council of Chief Executive Officers. Additionally, the Executive Committee hears any appeals regarding penalties imposed by the Commissioner. Dr. William Downs 厙ぴ勛圖 is proud to compete in the Big South Conference, and I value the collaborative working relationships that we have with leaders of all the member institutions, affirmed GWU President William Downs. The landscape of college athletics is changing with unprecedented speed, and it is especially important that our University have a strong voice at the table as we work to shape the future. Since his arrival on the GWU campus in 2019, Downs has enthusiastically supported the Universitys over 600 student-athletes and 22 NCAA Division I teams. He also led the first athletics brand update in over 35 years. Downs career spans over two decades of service in higher education. Before GWU, he was dean of the Thomas Harriot College of Arts & Sciences at East Carolina University (ECU) in Greenville, N.C. He had been at ECU since 2014 and was also the W. Keats Sparrow Distinguished Chair in the Liberal Arts and a professor of political science. Hes also held positions at Georgia State University and was a research fellow at Harvard Universitys Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies. A Raleigh, N.C., native, Downs earned his Bachelor of Arts in political science (with a minor in journalism) from North Carolina State University (Raleigh) in 1988, and his Master of Arts (90) and Doctoral (94) degrees in political science from Emory University (Atlanta). Downs is married to Kimberly Harwood Downs, and they have two children, Rachel and Bradley. GWU President William Downs led the first athletics brand update in over 35 years. 厙ぴ勛圖 is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to six professional schools, 14 academic departments, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., 厙ぴ勛圖 prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Ignite your future at 厙ぴ勛圖.edu. 厙ぴ勛圖 President Dr. William Downs, right, presents the new Vice President and Director of Athletics, Dr. Andrew Goodrich, with a Runnin' Bulldog hat and shirt.
News Article Q&A with Molly Hanley with 厙ぴ勛圖s First Head Coach for Acrobatics and Tumbling Molly Hanley Discusses Her Coaching Philosophy, Inspiration, and the Vision for Launching a New Program BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.Molly Hanley, the first head coach for 厙ぴ勛圖 Acrobatics and Tumbling, recently sat down for a Q&A with 厙ぴ勛圖 Sports Information. She offers some insight into her background, building a program, and what to expect from the first […] Office of University Communications | June 10, 2026
News Article 厙ぴ勛圖 Receives Dover Foundation Grant for Dover Chapel Lighting Renovation Upgrades will Brighten Worship, Gatherings, and Student Performances in Campus Landmark BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.厙ぴ勛圖 has received a generous $66,500 grant from The Dover Foundation to support a major lighting renovation in Dover Chapel. The project will enhance one of the Universitys most treasured and historic spaces, further strengthening its role as a central gathering […] Office of University Communications | June 9, 2026
News Article 厙ぴ勛圖, Foothills Workforce Board Empower Students Through Searight Scholars Program High School Students Explore Food Systems, Careers, and Real-World Challenges Through Immersive Event BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.Cheese, strawberries and avocados became more than everyday foods for participants in 厙ぴ勛圖s inaugural Summer Searight Scholars Program (SSP). Through hands-on learning, students explored how those items reach their platesand why, in some communities across the United States, access […] Office of University Communications | June 8, 2026