Dr. Phil Schubert, a 1991 graduate of Abilene Christian University, became its 11th president in June 2010.
During his tenure as president of one of the largest private universities in the Southwest, ACU has experienced remarkable growth in facilities, enrollment and financial strength. Total enrollment surpassed 5,300 for the first time in history, while retention and graduation rates remain strong. More than 35 percent of ACU’s student body is racially and ethnically diverse, representing a new hallmark for the university.
It has a branch campus, ACU Dallas, that enrolls more than 1,900 adult learners in online doctoral, master’s, bachelor’s and certificate programs. Abilene Christian is the highest-ranking university in Texas in a U.S. News & World Report benchmark focused on student success. It achieved Top 20 status in three of eight high-impact categories among 1,500 universities in the nation and was the only one in Texas recognized in five of the categories.
ACU is a top producer of U.S. Fulbright students and was the first university in Texas to receive recognition as an Adobe Creative Campus. Endowment has grown to more than $500 million, while net worth has risen to more than $630 million.
In 2018, ACU completed a $95 million expansion that includes a new science complex and an on-campus football stadium. In 2019, in only the Wildcats’ second year of NCAA Division I postseason eligibility, its men’s and women’s basketball teams made their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
Prior to becoming president, Schubert served as executive vice president at ACU and was responsible for university-wide strategic planning as well as the oversight of operational areas. He received his B.B.A. in accounting from ACU, an MBA from Duke University and an Ed.D. in higher education management from the University of Pennsylvania.