Baptist Health Sciences University celebrates new president at inauguration
Baptist Health Sciences University held an inauguration ceremony for its new president, Hampton Hopkins, on Friday, March 22 in the Frank S. Groner auditorium on the university’s campus.
More than 250 people attended the inauguration, including the school’s most recent president Betty Sue McGarvey and president emeritus Rose Temple. Speakers included Baptist Memorial Health Care President and CEO Jason Little, BHSU board of directors Chair Beverly Jordan, Student Government Association President Shania Fields and McGarvey.
“I was thrilled to help officially welcome Hampton Hopkins as president of Baptist Health Sciences University,” said Beverly Jordan, Board Chair for Baptist Health Sciences University. “An inauguration is such a special ceremony steeped in history and academic excellence. I look forward to working closely with Dr. Hopkins and supporting his efforts to advance BHSU’s footprint and academic excellence.”
Hopkins is the third president since the school started offering a four-year baccalaureate program in 1994.
“Being selected as the third president of Baptist Health Sciences University was a great honor,” said Hopkins. “I am grateful to everyone who had a role in welcoming me to BHSU and celebrating with me today. I look forward to contributing my professional experience and personal convictions to further the mission of BHSU and helping prepare the next generation of health care professionals to lead and serve.”
Hopkins came to BHSU from Charlotte, North Carolina, where he simultaneously served as the president of Carolinas College of Health Sciences and assistant vice president of medical education for Atrium Health between 2016 and 2023. During that time, he planned a $4.5 million renovation and relocated the college; transitioned the college from an associate level to baccalaureate; created The Learning Symposium, a signature college event exploring innovative strategies that can be employed to improve health care and the patient experience; and secured the largest donor gift commitments in college history.
From 2001 to 2016, Hopkins served as the dean of student affairs and enrollment management for the Carolinas College of Health Sciences in Charlotte where he increased enrollment by 31% between 2001 and 2015. Between 1993 and 2016, Hopkins held numerous other positions in education and business. He started his career in higher education as the assistant director of student activities at the University of North Carolina at Asheville, North Carolina, in 1990.
Hopkins has a Doctor of Education in educational leadership from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, a Master of Science in leadership studies from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina.