Former resident now college president
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A 1963 graduate of McMinnville City High School, Dr. Eastman went on to graduate magna cum laude from the University of Tennessee with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and English in 1968. He earned his PhD in English from the University of Florida in 1971.
His career in college-level teaching and administration has spanned over 30 years. He began his career as an instructor of humanities and assistant professor of English at the University of Florida. Later, at the University of Tennessee, he was the executive assistant to the chancellor and executive director of the university of communications and taught poetry and fiction.
He also was the executive director of the university of communications at Cornell University, as well as the institution’s acting vice president for university relations. Most recently Dr. Eastman served at the University of Georgia as vice president of strategic planning and public service.
While being a college president hasn’t been a life-long goal for Dr. Eastman, he admits the thought had crossed his mind over the years. “After 25 plus years of reporting directly to various college presidents, I developed my own views on how to do the job,” he said.
Others liked his ideas. “Dr. Eastman has outstanding academic credentials, and administrative experience in strategic planning and expertise in highly successful capital campaigns,” said Miles C. Collier, chairman of Eckerd College Board of Trustees. “He has the skills Eckerd needs to meet the challenges of a liberal arts college and provide the leadership we need for the 21st century.”
According to Grover C. Wrenn, chairman of Eckerd’s presidential search committee, Dr. Eastman emerged from a field of 90, well-qualified candidates as the best one to lead the college.
After a year on the job, which he described as “absolutely fabulous,” Dr. Eastman said being a college president requires one to care a lot about the school and its students because “it’s an all-consuming job, seven days a week and lots of nights and weekends.”
Among his responsibilities are leading and managing the college, representing the college to both inside and outside constituencies, coordinating and serving the institution’s Board of Trustees and raising private financial gifts.
Eckerd College is a private, coeducational college of liberal arts and sciences related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA). Its enrollment stands at 1,575 students from 49 states and 62 countries.