Dr. Bill Greer announced on April 13, 2023, that he will retire as the university’s 15th president at the end of the next academic year in 2024, following a 13-year tenure that has yielded substantial progress and transformation for the institution. He will serve as chancellor following his retirement.
Presidential Highlights
A 1985 Milligan graduate, Greer returned to the institution in 1994 as the J. Henry Kegley Professor of Economics and Business following a decade in business and industry. He was chair of Milligan’s business area and founding director of Milligan’s MBA program. In 2006, he became vice president for institutional advancement, where he led the successful $28 million first phase of the “Forward Ever” campaign. He became president in 2011 following the retirement of Donald R. Jeanes.
Greer has guided Milligan to unprecedented achievements and recognition as one of the Best Regional Universities and Best Values in the South. He has advanced the university’s academic mission through the addition or revision of 25 academic programs and an academic restructuring that led to the renaming of Milligan College to Milligan University in 2020. Presiding over the most ambitious fundraising campaigns in university history, he led the second phase of the successful “Forward Ever” fundraising effort and the current “On Mission” fundraising campaign, resulting in more than $80 million raised for the university.
A look back shows a remarkable number of accomplishments during Greer’s presidency. These represent the dedication and commitment of the entire campus, its leaders, students, and friends.
- Record enrollment
- Record giving
- Record endowment growth
- Academic reorganization into five schools
- Integration of Emmanuel Christian Seminary into Milligan’s School of Bible and Ministry
- Milligan Village – five new residence halls
- Renovation of the Fireside Grill in the McMahan Student Center
- Enhanced multiple academic and athletic facilities
- Donation of new presidential home, Tara Court
- New undergraduate majors
- computer science
- criminology/criminal justice
- cybersecurity
- economics
- electrical engineering
- film
- graphic design
- interactive media design
- mechanical engineering
- multimedia journalism
- musical theatre
- political science
- public relations
- social work
- Spanish
- New graduate programs
- Master of Arts in Coaching and Athletic Administration
- Master of Science in Counseling
- Master of Science Physician Assistant Studies
- Doctor of Education & Educational Specialist
- Milligan Honors Program
- Campus footprint increased from 195 to 355 acres
- Numerous national recognitions
- Celebration of Sesquicentennial Year in 2016
- Transitioned from Milligan College to Milligan University in 2020
- 31 intercollegiate athletic programs with more than 100 NAIA All-Americans
