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When Paul Trible-former U.S. Senator and congressman from Virginia-arrived at Christopher Newport University as its new president in 1996, CNU was a spunky school with heart, but it wasn’t in the best of shape financially, academically, or aesthetically. Its future was not bright. Paul dreamed bold dreams. He painted grand word pictures of what CNU would become. Everywhere he went, he held up an audacious vision of Christopher Newport as one of America’s premiere public universities, a beautiful campus of national distinction, and a competitive destination of choice for gifted students.
Many listeners shrugged. Trible hadn’t come from academia; he didn’t know what could and couldn’t be done at this humble, commuter-based campus. After one particularly soaring speech, a respected faculty curmudgeon summed it up: Trible was crazy as hell. Fortunately Paul had been called a lot of names during his political career. He had thick skin and confidence in a compelling vision. He grinned, courted the curmudgeon as a friend, and went on to actually accomplish all the bold and unconventional changes of which he dreamed. During Paul’s 26 years as president, Christopher Newport was transformed, becoming a unique, respected jewel among America’s public universities.
This surprising account is not just a tale about Paul Trible, though he’s an inspiring guy. It’s not just a case study for educators or a book about transformational leadership, though its principles are transferrable truths. It’s not an architectural tome about bricks and mortar, though the physical transformation of CNU has been astounding.
This is a story about relationships. It’s about building a community where people of diverse backgrounds, gifts, and personalities have come together to serve students. It’s about fanning not just the flame of intellectual curiosity and academic excellence, but creating an environment of mutual respect and kindness, educating both minds and hearts. It’s about the fact that life is not just about personal success and advancement, but serving and helping one’s fellow human beings. It’s about–as Paul Trible said from the beginning–equipping young people to dream big dreams, and to live a life of significance and real satisfaction. And it’s about a community made up of people with humor, grit, innovation, expertise, mutual respect, and love. People who were all just crazy enough to go beyond the norm, and make great things happen.
