Biography & Photos

Click on image to download a print-quality version.

Kim S. Phipps, Ph.D., was named the eighth president of Messiah College in December 2004. As president, Dr. Phipps serves as the chief executive officer of Messiah College, subject to direction of the board of trustees, and is responsible for visioning, planning, fundraising, administrating and nurturing a campus culture consistent with the mission of the College.

Examples of significant college initiatives accomplished during Dr. Phipps' presidency to date include:

The launch of the College's core course, "Created and Called for Community," which is an integral part of Messiah's new core curriculum for first-year students (the result of four years of comprehensive review and planning by Messiah's Community of Educators). The course serves as a critical introduction to Messiah College's unique heritage, mission, and identity, including an examination of forgiveness, compassion, non-violence, community, and reconciliation. The core curriculum also included the launch of the College's Common Reading Program, in which first-year students read a common text selected specifically to educate students on essential themes related to intellectual and spiritual development.
The successful completion of "To Serve & To Lead," the largest comprehensive fundraising campaign in Messiah's history, which raised $50.5 million for student enrichment through new facilities, academic programming, and financial aid.
The completion of the first phase of a new campus Concept Plan which will guide the College's facilities and land use planning and development through the year 2050.
The formation of a multidisciplinary Integrated Marketing Team responsible to develop a long term strategic plan for meeting the College's student recruitment goals.
The launch of a College-wide Diversity Strategic Planning Initiative, rooted in a comprehensive, candid survey of Messiah's campus climate related to a wide range of diversity aspects in the campus community.
Hosting The Compassion Forum in April 2008, a nationally televised, unprecedented conversation with presidential candidates on the integration of faith and public policy.
The implementation of graduate education into the College’s academic offerings. Masters programs are now available in counseling, conducting, art education, youth and young adult ministries and education and higher education.
The launch of a new marketing communications campaign, inviting students and others to "See Anew" based on the research of the College’s two-year strategic branding initiative.
The successful launch of the Centennial Campaign, a $40 million fundraising endeavor that will provide student scholarships and fund the construction of the Calvin and Janet High Center for Worship and Performing Arts Center. Ground has been broken on the new worship and performing arts center. The center is expected to open in Spring 2013.

Kim Phipps with Messiah College students Prior to becoming president, during her combined tenure as Messiah's academic dean and provost, Dr. Phipps led a successful restructuring of the College, including the recruitment and appointment of school deans; served as co-leader of the task force to redesign the College's governance structure; designed and implemented important initiatives to support faculty scholarship including a faculty workload reallocation program; gave significant leadership to the educational program review which has resulted in a first-year core curriculum and cocurriculum that is holistic, student-centered and focused on the college's mission and identity; co-authored a $2 million grant from The Lilly Endowment, and served as project director for that award, which has enabled students and colleagues to pursue programming related to understanding and discovering Christian vocation; and provided leadership to the Micah Project Committee, which seeks to address campus climate issues related to diversity. Key accomplishments of this initiative to date include: the design and implementation of a policy and protocol for racial harassment and ongoing anti-racism education for College educators.

President Phipps has researched and authored numerous publications related to the structure, rhetoric, and climate of higher education; the development of educational community; faculty development and identity; gender and diversity communication issues; and the complexities and nuances of religion and American political campaign rhetoric. Dr. Phipps has spoken nationally at numerous conferences on the topic of developing hospitable campus climates.

President Phipps holds a Ph.D. in communication studies from Kent State University. Before coming to Messiah, she served in a variety of leadership roles at Malone College in Canton, Ohio, including professor and chair of the department of communication arts, acting dean of the college, and associate dean for faculty development.
Phipps family
Dr. Phipps is an active member of the Central Pennsylvania community and represents the College's commitment to civic engagement by serving on a variety of local, regional, and national boards. She is also the recipient of several community awards and recognitions.

Dr. Phipps is a native of Long Island, N.Y., and lives on campus with her husband, D. Kelly Phipps, J.D., adjunct professor of business law and independent business consultant. Their daughter, Brooke, is a sophomore college student.