Courtesy: Saint Augustine’s Facebook post. Please visit their website for more information:
Updated: October 19, 2020
Saint Augustine’s University has confirmed President Dr. Irving Pressley McPhail died of COVID-19.
The president of Saint Augustineās University, who just became the historically Black collegeās leader this summer,Ā has died of coronavirus complications, the university said.
Irving Pressley McPhailĀ was named the universityās 12th leaderĀ after a national search, with officials highlighting his experience in higher education, urban public school administration and work in the non-profit sector. He also was known for his efforts highlighting contributions made by minorities in the STEM field.
He joined the school July 15.
āIn the short time he was the universityās chief executive officer, he made a memorable and positive impact in moving the University in the direction of being a āLearning Centeredā campus,ā the statement said.
The school confirmed Friday that he died of complications of the coronavirus.
A letter went out via university email on Oct. 12 under the letterhead of the St. Augustineās Board of Trustees that said McPhail was ārecovering from COVID-19. He is receiving expert care and treatment at a local hospital.
āIt is important to note that he did not contract the virus in the SAU community. We continue to take all precautions to ensure that our SAU community remains safe,ā the letter said.
āPresident McPhail has been a strong proponent of face coverings and social distancing. He has regularly communicated with the campus community about SAUās COVID-19 protocols and expectations, through both formal and informal channels.ā
In August, McPhail told The News & Observer that the coronavirus pandemic is showing that HBCUs are more important than ever. HeĀ spoke with The N&OĀ as students were returning to school.
While wealthier students at other universities may be able to afford to take a year off, he said, āMy kids want to come back to school.ā
He had big goals as the new president. He said he hoped St. Augās would hit a milestone enrollment of 1,000 students. He had hopes of launching an institute on the study of racial disparities to be based at the university, whichĀ was founded in 1867Ā and later launched North Carolinaās first nursing school for African American students.
And he said the pandemic and the recent emphasis on racial and social justice issues in America would be incorporated into coursework.
At the end of each workday, McPhail told The N&O, he drove around campus to see whether students were wearing masks and keeping a safe distance from one another. If they were not, he said, he rolled down the window of his car and gently reminded them.
McPhail said he believed science-based guidance would lead the country, and his students, out of the pandemic. But he said he hadnāt forgotten that St. Augās was founded by a pastor and a bishop of the Episcopal church.
āIām happy that St. Augustineās was founded on religious traditions and prayer,ā McPhail told The N&O, ābecause Iām praying every day.ā
Events to honor McPhail have not been announced. Dr. Maria A. Lumpkin, the schoolās vice president and chief of staff, will serve as interim president, effective immediately.
A LENGTHY CAREER IN EDUCATION
McPhail, a New York City native, also was founder and chief strategy officer at the McPhail Group LLC.
He was a professor of practice at the Dr. John E. Roueche Community College Leadership Center at Kansas State University. His work focused on connecting āpractice, policy, and research in language, literacy, and culture; postsecondary student success; underrepresented minorities in STEM education and careers; and community college leadership,ā according to SAU.
Before coming to SAU, McPhail was the sixth president and CEO at the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering, Inc., which was awarded the 2012 Claire Felbinger Award for Diversity from the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology under his leadership.
McPhail also served as founding chancellor at the Community College of Baltimore County, president at St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley and president at Lemoyne-Owen College. He also previously served as provost at Pace University, vice president and dean of academic affairs at Delaware State University and chief operating officer at the Baltimore City Public Schools.
In addition to administrative roles, McPhail was a tenured professor at Delaware State University, Lemoyne-Owen College and Pace University.
McPhail earned a bachelorās degree at Cornell University, a masterās degree at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a doctorate in reading/language arts at the University of Pennsylvania as a National Fellowships Fund Fellow. He was also awarded two honorary doctoral degrees from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and the Polytechnic Institute of New York University.
He was married toĀ Dr. Christine Johnson McPhail and had two children and several grandchildren.
He replaced Everett Ward,Ā who retired in March 2019. Two interim presidents filled the position until McPhail was hired.
The school was founded in 1867 by the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina.
Courtesy: Saint Augustine University/Newsobserver.com
The president of a historically Black college in Raleigh has died three months after starting his tenure, the school said. Saint Augustineās University announced Irving Pressley McPhailās death Thursday night in a post on their Facebook page.Ā A cause of death was not released. āIn the short time he was the universityās chief executive officer, he made a memorable and positive impact in moving the University in the direction of being a āLearning Centeredā campus,ā the post said. Members of the community marched silently by the President’s residence to lay flowers on the porch, according to another post on the school’s page.Ā McPhail started his role with the university on July 15. Maria A. Lumpkin, the schoolās vice president, will serve as interim president, the school said.