Meet Brian C. Ralph, Ph.D., President of William Peace University.
“William Peace University has an important role to play in higher education. We have had a great start on numerous strategic priorities: growing enrollment, meeting alumni and friends throughout the state and region, and deepening our academics. I am especially proud of our students, faculty, and staff. The new Believe in Peace strategic plan is an aspirational and inspirational plan that will move WPU forward in powerful ways.”
Brian C. Ralph, Ph.D., is the 11th President of Peace
Dr. Ralph’s Career
Dr. Ralph’s career includes leadership roles at Hocking College in Ohio, Bethany College in West Virginia and Queens University in North Carolina. Dr. Ralph has a number of professional affiliations, including Downtown Raleigh Alliance (Chair of the Board), The Raleigh Chamber of Commerce (Board Member), North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (Executive Committee of the Board), Cooperating Raleigh Colleges (Board Member), The Alexander Family YMCA (Board Member), The USA South Athletic Conference (Presidents Council) and Independent College Enterprise (Chair of the Board), Association of Presbyterian Colleges and Universities (Board Member). The Fifty Group, Leadership Triangle Executive program.
Additional community engagement includes serving as a committee member for the Blueprint for Dismantling Systemic Racism, an initiative of A Better Wake; Raleigh Downtown Transportation Plan Advisory Committee; Wake BRT Committee, panelist for Education Day of Leadership Raleigh.
As president of WPU, Dr. Ralph oversees a student body of almost 750 full and part-time students enrolled in undergraduate day, evening, and online programs, and an alumni body of more than 12,000. An astounding 97 percent of graduates are employed and/or in graduate school within one year after graduation.
Dr. Ralph received his Bachelor of Science degree from Bloomsburg University, and both a Master in Business Administration and Doctorate of Philosophy in Organizational Communication and Culture from Ohio University.
He is also an alumnus of Leadership Charlotte and the Institute for Educational Management at Harvard University, and participated (along with his wife, Kristen) in the Council of Independent Colleges’ Presidential Vocation and Institutional Mission program.
He and his wife Kristen have been married 28 years and have three adult daughters.
Dr. Ralph delivers a message to graduates at Commencement
“As our students achieve higher levels of success, the dynamics and opportunities for the university will change as well. Enrollment will continue to grow, philanthropic interest will increase, we will retain and attract talented and dedicated faculty and staff, and the school will achieve incredible vibrancy.”