David A. Armstrong

David A. Armstrong, J.D., began his first year at St. Thomas University in August 2018, becoming the University’s 10th president. He is a dynamic leader who is driven by excellence. In less than one year, he has spearheaded the launch of a football and marching band program, began construction on the Gus Machado School of Business, started an Ethical Leadership Program, and helped fundraise more than $10.8 million for St. Thomas University. President Armstrong’s collaborative, innovative spirit has yielded exciting new ventures and has helped expand the University’s regional and national footprint.

Armstrong comes to St. Thomas University from Thomas More University, a Catholic liberal arts school belonging to the Diocese of Covington, Ky., where he was president since 2013. Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, President Armstrong holds a Juris Doctor from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, with a Minor in Accounting, from Mercyhurst University.

Prior to Thomas More University, served as Vice President and General Counsel of Notre Dame College in South Euclid, Ohio, where he oversaw divisions of the college that set records in enrollment and fundraising. His background in higher education administration at Notre Dame College, Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pa., and Thiel College in Greenville, Pa., includes a span of experience in development, student life, recruitment, higher education law and policy, and athletics.

Armstrong, a nationally recognized speaker on future trends of higher education law and Title IX issues, has dedicated his career to making sure small, faith-based colleges and universities not only survive but also thrive in the new landscape of higher education. His commitment to the transformative power of a vibrant higher education has driven the colleges he has worked in to experience remarkable growth in enrollment, corporate partnerships, and collegiate program agreements with other institutions through new academic, co-curricular and extra-curricular programs. His vision has guided institutions into the future with comprehensive strategic plans, which emphasize student success, faculty innovation, and increased donor engagement and giving.

In 2018, Armstrong was named as a member of the Orange Bowl Committee. And he serves on the Stetson University College of Law’s Center for Excellence in Higher Education Law and Policy Advisory Council, and the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities Committee on Accountability.

Armstrong is married to Leslie Armstrong, a former special education teacher with 18 years of experience in urban education.