Draft:David Armstrong

= David A. Armstrong, J.D. = David A. Armstrong, J.D., is the tenth president of St. Thomas University, in Miami Gardens, FL. He was hired in July of 2018, and was installed as president on March 20, 2019. . Since the fall of 2018, the university has seen a 50% increase in overall enrollment since the fall of 2018 – a 99% increase in undergraduate enrollment. Armstrong has led five years of record incoming undergraduate enrollment

Early Life
David A. Armstrong was born in Cleveland, Ohio, into a large Catholic family, with roots in Germany, Ireland, Croatia, and Scotland. His mother and father grew up in the poorest neighborhoods of east Cleveland. His father was the oldest of four children, and his mother was the oldest of seven.

Armstrong has four older brothers and two younger sisters. All of them attended Catholic grade schools and Catholic high schools. Armstrong and three of his siblings attended Catholic colleges, and two of them earned advanced degrees.

Armstrong graduated from St. Peter Chanel High School, in Bedford, Ohio, where his four older brothers also attended. Like his brothers, Armstrong played football for the St. Peter Chanel Firebirds.

Education
Armstrong received his bachelor's degree in political science in 1986, from Mercyhurst University. He received his juris doctor law degree in 1989, from Cleveland State University Cleveland-Marshall College of Law.

Career
While still in law school, Armstrong became an assistant football coach at St. Peter Chanel High School, and after earning his law degree, he became an assistant football coach at Mercyhurst University.

After leaving Mercyhurst, he went on to become the head football coach and athletic director at Thiel College from 1997-2000. He then served as the athletic director at Holy Name High School until 2003.

From 2003 to 2013, Armstrong was Vice President and General Counsel at Notre Dame College.

From 2013 to 2018, Armstrong served at president at Thomas More University.

Since 2018, Armstrong has served as president at St. Thomas University, Miami, FL

Achievements
Armstrong, a nationally recognized speaker on future trends of higher education law and Title IX, has dedicated his career to ensuring small, faith-based colleges and universities not only survive but thrive in the new landscape of higher education. His commitment to the transformative power of education has driven the colleges he has worked for to experience remarkable growth in enrollment, corporate partnerships, and collaboration. His vision has guided institutions into the future with comprehensive strategic plans, which emphasize student success, faculty innovation, and increased donor and alumni engagement and giving.

Organizations
President Armstrong serves on the boards of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU), The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida (ICUF), Students ACES, the Florida Council of 100, and the Florida Tax Watch.

He serves on the Orange Bowl Committee, and is a member of the Beacon Council’s Board of Directors and its Academic Leaders Council. Armstrong is also a member of the Sun Conference Executive Committee, the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, The South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and The Broward Workshop.

Personal Life
President Armstrong is married to Leslie Armstrong, a former special education teacher with 18 years of experience in urban education. He has two children, David Balthazar, and Johanna Marie.