Disrupter
I first encountered Maryville University’s story through Pivot: A Vision for the New University—a book recommended to me by Chowan University’s Interim President Charles Taylor and fellow trustee Jane Burke. That led me to Disrupter: How Maryville Remade Itself and Higher Education, and here is where Providence stepped in. When I went searching for the book, I discovered that the author, Marty Parkes, is not only a respected higher‑education communicator—he is also my neighbor and friend. I don’t believe in coincidences. I believe in God’s provision, and this connection felt like a nudge to keep exploring this path.
The book was sold out everywhere, so Marty graciously lent me his personal copy. Now I’m ordering my own and recommending it to my fellow Chowan University board members because Disrupter is more than a case study—it is a roadmap for institutions determined not just to survive but to lead.
As a trustee at Chowan, I read this book with both professional curiosity and spiritual attentiveness. Maryville’s transformation under Dr.Mark Lombardiis not theoretical; it is lived, measurable, and deeply student‑centered. That truth was reinforced when I mentioned the book to my daughter’s catechism teacher —only to learn she is a Maryville alumna. She and her classmates still speak with affection about Dr. Lombardi’s personal commitment to students. That kind of leadership culture does not happen by accident.
Parkes captures the urgency facing higher education and the courage required to rethink long‑held assumptions. His writing is clear, compelling, and grounded in real institutional practice. For peer institutions like Chowan—mission‑driven, regionally rooted, and committed to preparing students for meaningful futures—Maryville’s story offers both challenge and encouragement.
This book arrived in my life through a series of unmistakable connections, and I am grateful it did. Disrupter is now shaping conversations I am having with colleagues, and I expect it will continue to influence how we imagine Chowan’s next chapter.
