Pfeiffer University
Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs
About Pfeiffer University
History
Pfeiffer University originated from the Oberlin Home and School, a homeschool developed by Miss Emily C. Prudden in 1885. In 1903, the Women's Home Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church agreed to assume responsibility for the Oberlin property, and on June 8, 1903, the Oberlin school was renamed the Ebenezer Mitchell Home and School. The Mitchell Home and School then moved to the current property in Misenheimer, issuing the first high school diplomas in 1913. A junior college curriculum was added in 1928, and the school was renamed Mitchell Junior College. The introduction of elementary studies by county schools permitted the school to eliminate lower grades and to direct its efforts toward collegiate level work.
In honor of Henry and Annie Merner Pfeiffer of New York City, the name Pfeiffer Junior College was first used for the 1935-1936 academic year. Pfeiffer broadened its program to include senior college work in 1960. Thirty-six years later in May of 1996, the Pfeiffer Board of Trustees voted to reorganize Pfeiffer's academic structure toward university status. The Charlotte campus opened in 1977 with undergraduate classes, and the first graduate program followed in 1985. The most recent campus, which opened in 2020, is located in the historic Five Points area in downtown Albemarle and is Pfeiffer University’s state-of-the-art Center for Health Sciences.
Since its founding, Pfeiffer has consistently grown in academic excellence, developing new programs to meet student needs, and emphasizing the ideals of Christian service.
Mission
Pfeiffer University delivers a transformational, personalized education wherein students are shaped by a gifted, diverse, and committed community of mentors. Graduates are prepared to lead, have the disposition to serve, and possess the wisdom and skills to facilitate health and prosperity throughout the region and the world.
In pursuit of this mission, Pfeiffer catalyzes transformative growth through innovation, engaged learning, and a living network of campuses. Expert faculty members offer a unique model of liberal arts education that emphasizes participation in a global society, and shared values are embraced by the close-knit Pfeiffer University family, who share a commitment to Wesleyan values and personal growth.
Finding Purpose through Servant Leadership
Pfeiffer inspires students to lead lives of meaningful work and service through integrated academics and service. In this spirit, Pfeiffer established the Francis Center for Servant Leadership in 1999 to reflect John Wesley’s charge to love God and one another.
Finding Career Success Through Real World Experience
Preparation for the professional world does not just take place in the classroom at Pfeiffer. Experiential learning through hands-on, site-based learning in students’ chosen fields empowers students to conquer their fears, overcome obstacles, and grow in confidence. Volunteer opportunities, mentorship programs, internships, and student organizations help students gain the soft skills employers value.
Pfeiffer University Today
As a private university with a 140-year heritage of servant leadership rooted in a strong liberal arts curriculum and the faith of the United Methodist Church, Pfeiffer prepares students to be thoughtful, well-rounded leaders in their fields through intentional mentorship, real-world experiences, and exemplary academic programs. As of the Fall of 2025, the University serves approximately 1000 students, including about 700 undergraduates and 300 graduate students, through a regional network of three campuses:
Pfeiffer’s Charlotte campus was established in 1977 to serve working adults. Today, many of the programs originally offered on that campus are offered online, including a Master of Business Administration, Master of Healthcare Administration, and a Master of Science in Counseling.
In 2020, the Pfeiffer Center for Health Sciences was constructed in downtown Albemarle, North Carolina. Just a 15-minute drive from the traditional, liberal arts-focused campus, the Center for Health Sciences is home to the University’s growing graduate programs in Physician Assistant Studies and Occupational Therapy Studies.
In addition to participating in on-campus courses, students also have the opportunity to study online at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Pfeiffer University’s online courses deliver the same academic rigor as faculty guide students with the same attention. Online classes enable students to complete a degree, pursue graduate education, and earn concentrations in fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, human resources, and more. As the demand for new programs like this continues to grow, Pfeiffer University plans to respond to student needs of every demographic with new innovative classes and faculty.
Academics
Pfeiffer is known for its transformational undergraduate experience with a solid liberal arts foundation. Degree programs are offered across four academic divisions:
Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate and master's degrees, Pfeiffer offers more than 25 majors and minors and has a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Eighty percent of in-person classes have fewer than 20 students. The three most popular bachelor’s degree concentrations are General Business Administration & Management, Registered Nursing, Health Care Administration & Management, and Health & Exercise Science.
Pfeiffer’s master’s programs and certificates are offered primarily online or on the Albemarle campus. Degrees offered by the university include Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, Master of Health Administration, Master of Arts, and Master of Business Administration.
With a heritage of dedicated academic excellence, Pfeiffer’s Academic Centers collaborate university-wide to ensure scholarly merit and provide support to students academically, socially, and spiritually. The academic centers include:
To broaden the educational experience, the university offers study abroad opportunities, ministry experiences through the office of the university chaplain, living-learning communities, and internships.
Pfeiffer University is in year three of a three-year experiment offering a convenient, four-day instructional week for students. Classes are held Monday through Thursday. “Falcon Fridays” provide students with the time and flexibility to engage in beyond-the-classroom activities they might not otherwise enjoy. Falcon Fridays also give students additional time to study, to complete research projects, or to participate in internships. Students can take Friday field trips, listen to lectures by guest speakers, attend special seminars, present recitals, and participate in various extracurricular activities.
Athletics
The Pfeiffer Falcons are members of the NCAA Division III and the USA South Athletic Conference with 19 teams, including baseball, basketball,* cross country,* golf,* lacrosse,* soccer,* softball, tennis,* indoor and outdoor track,* and women’s volleyball (*men’s and women’s teams). Approximately 70% of undergraduates participate in athletics.
For more information about Pfeiffer, please visit the Pfeiffer University website at www.pfeiffer.edu
Pfeiffer University’s President
Scott Bullard, Ph.D. is Pfeiffer’s 11th President.
The board of trustees approved Dr. Bullard's appointment in 2019 after a search by an internal committee that included representatives of the trustees, alumni board, and key academic and administrative departments.
Dr. Bullard, who previously served as interim president, senior vice president, and dean of the college at Judson College in Marion, Alabama, lives in Stanly County with his wife, Shannon, and their four children - Judson, Desmond, Campbell, and Walker.
"Pfeiffer is preparing leaders in healthcare, business, education, the arts, ministry, and many other disciplines," Bullard said, "and because of the character of Pfeiffer employees, Pfeiffer graduates care most about serving others through their vocations. I am excited to be working alongside such capable and engaged colleagues in service of students and a region that I have loved for a long time."
A North Carolina native, Bullard graduated from Scotland High School in Laurinburg. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from Campbell University, a Master of Divinity from Duke University, and a Ph.D. in theology from Baylor University.
Bullard served at Duke as a teaching assistant and worked as a development officer for the nonprofit Stop Hunger Now in Raleigh before going on to Baylor. He was also an adjunct professor at two Texas colleges.
During Bullard’s presidency, Pfeiffer constructed the Center for Health Sciences in Albemarle and added graduate programs in the areas of Occupational Therapy (OT) Studies and Physician Assistant (PA) Studies. The university also added concentrations in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and other new undergraduate opportunities. Gifts and pledges of $7,122,845 have been raised for the Pfeiffer University Center for Health Sciences, the campus where the PA and OT programs are housed, from June 1, 2019 to date.
The Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Responsibilities
As a member of the President’s Cabinet, the Pfeiffer University Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs oversees the work of the deans of both the undergraduate and graduate colleges, and provides oversight and guidance for the four academic divisions as Pfeiffer executes its mission on campuses in Misenheimer, Charlotte, and Albemarle (Center for Health Sciences).
The provost will embody servant leadership, as well as understand and express an appreciation for the University’s deep connection to The United Methodist Church.
Above all, the provost, as a proactive builder and researcher, will be responsible for developing a successful third and/or fourth graduate healthcare program as part of the Pfeiffer University Center for Health Sciences. The provost will foster an environment that encourages and supports teaching and learning, student success, strong faculty morale, and the stewardship of resources with creativity, servant leadership, and fiscal oversight.
This decisive leader will maintain strong relationships with the accrediting bodies and other external entities. The provost will actively participate in the recruitment, retention, and (when appropriate) promotion of faculty members in accordance with Pfeiffer University’s Faculty Handbook. The provost will also actively contribute to Pfeiffer’s strategic planning efforts and assist the President, deans, faculty, and Vice President for Enrollment Management in executing the university’s plan to build and retain robust student populations.
Additional responsibilities for the provost include, but are not necessarily limited to:
Qualifications
The candidate should possess the following qualifications:
Compensation
Compensation is commensurate with experience and includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 403b retirement account, and tuition benefits at Pfeiffer (for dependents) and other member institutions of the Council of Independent Colleges. Campus housing may be provided.
To make a nomination, provide a referral, or for additional information, please use the contact information below. While applications and nominations will be accepted until a successful candidate has been appointed, interested parties are encouraged to submit their materials as soon as possible as review of candidates will begin immediately. To apply, please submit a resume and/or vita, and cover letter, to PfeifferProvost@BuffkinBaker.com
Ken Carrick, Partner
704-236-0659
Janny DeLoache, Principal
704-377-7828
Pfeiffer University is committed to hiring faculty and staff who wish to make a difference through higher education. Pfeiffer is a comprehensive United Methodist-related university, with multiple campuses, each of which are committed to educational excellence, service, and scholarship. We encourage our faculty, staff, and students to reach their full potential, while valuing diversity. The university encourages our staff and faculty members to embrace the values of human dignity, integrity, and service to our community.
Pfeiffer is an equal opportunity employer. AA/EOE
Buffkin / Baker is a partner-led executive search firm specializing in Healthcare, Higher Education, Private Equity, Technology/Digital, Consumer, and Non-Profit sectors. Each partner, a leader in their field, brings over a decade of retained search experience, contributing to a collective total of more than 300 years in search and over 400 years in industry and operational expertise. The firm operates from multiple locations, including Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Charlotte, Chattanooga, Cleveland, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Nashville, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, St. Simons Island, Tampa, Washington, DC, and Winston-Salem. We are proud partners of Panorama, a global network specializing in executive search and placement, executive recruitment consulting, leadership development advisory, board evaluation, and executive succession planning.
