For Christopher White, the first chancellor of Chowan University, nearly five decades in higher education have been guided by a belief that education should create opportunities for everyone, regardless of their background or financial circumstances. That philosophy took root during his childhood in a small town in the U.S. state of Georgia, where he grew up as the son of a small business owner and learned the importance of hard work, honesty, courtesy and respect for others. “I was taught to think big and to pursue big dreams wherever they may take me,” White said, recalling how his family encouraged him to pursue higher education. That encouragement set him on a career path that began as a professor of religion before taking him into university administration, where he eventually rose to senior leadership positions. White holds a Ph.D. in religion from Emory University in Atlanta and served as vice president of Elon University, 10th president of Gardner-Webb University and 22nd president and first chancellor of Chowan University. He is now senior fellow for international partnershi