First Chowan chancellor Chris White receives honorary doctorate from Seoul Cyber University

Christopher White, the first chancellor of Chowan University, received an honorary doctorate from Seoul Cyber University on Thursday in recognition of his work in education. White’s relationship with the university began in 1995 through its honorary chairman, Lee Se-ung. He said their shared commitment to expanding higher-education opportunities and international relationships helped make the honor a culmination of friendship and understanding. White also recalled helping more than two dozen Palestinian Christian students from the Holy Land obtain college educations.

White holds a Ph.D. in religion from Emory University in Atlanta.

He served as vice president of Elon University, 10th president of Gardner-Webb University and 22nd president and first chancellor of Chowan University.

White is now senior fellow for international partnerships at Anderson University.

White said the most rewarding part of his university presidency was providing college education for more than two dozen Palestinian Christian students from Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Ramallah.

White described three costs of leadership: making difficult decisions that may hurt people he cares about, being disliked despite his efforts and being misunderstood without a chance to defend himself.

Published Oct 26, 2026 7:00 am KST

Dr. M. Christopher White, left, poses with his wife, Linda Fleming White, while holding his honorary Doctor of Education certificate from Seoul Cyber University (SCU) at its campus in Gangbuk District, Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of SCU

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.

Linda Fleming White poses after receiving a plaque of appreciation from Seoul Cyber University (SCU) at its campus in Gangbuk District, Seoul, Thursday. From left are Lee Eun-joo, SCU president; Dr. M. Christopher White; Linda Fleming White; and Lee Sang-kyun, SCU board chairman. Courtesy of SCU

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 partnerships at Anderson University.

On Thursday, White was recognized for his work in education with an honorary doctorate from Seoul Cyber University (SCU), with which he has also had ties for more than 30 years.

"I am so pleased with the university's growth from modest beginnings to an intellectual powerhouse," White said. "The receipt of the honorary doctorate is a significant event in my life, and I am both humbled and grateful. In many ways this is a culmination of friendship, encouragement and international understanding."

Dr. M. Christopher White plays the piano during an honorary doctorate conferral ceremony at the campus of Seoul Cyber University (SCU) in Gangbuk District, Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of SCU

His relationship with SCU began in 1995, when a friend who was a university president introduced him to Lee Se-ung, the school’s honorary chairman. The two men had an almost instant rapport, bonding as devoted Christians who value family and heritage.

"We both want to provide opportunities for higher education to as many people as possible, especially those with modest finances. We both value international relationships. We both have big ideas along with the courage to make those dreams become reality," White said.

White added that he remains impressed by Lee’s vision of expanding the high school founded by Lee’s father into a companion university. “What great vision he continues to have and the courage to act to fulfill that vision.”

Relationships matter to White well beyond the one with Lee. University growth in numbers, quality and finances was important, but the most rewarding parts of his experience as university president involved relationships with people.

The most rewarding of those, White said, was the opportunity to provide a college education for more than two dozen Palestinian Christian students from the Holy Land, including Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Ramallah.

"These students were gifted but had no resources for education. Life for Palestinian Christians in the Holy Land is very difficult. They are now doctors, scientists, educators and the like all over the world."

But leadership was not always rewarding, White said. Though he never planned it, he has been thrust into such roles throughout his life.

Dr. M. Christopher White, left, and Lee Eun-joo, president of Seoul Cyber University (SCU), pose with White’s honorary Doctor of Education certificate at its campus in Gangbuk District, Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of SCU

"Being a leader comes with costs. I resonate with the three costs of leadership that I found from some forgotten source. First, you will have to make hard decisions that could negatively affect people that you care about. Second, you will be disliked despite your best efforts to do the best for the most. Third, you will be misunderstood and will not always have the opportunity to defend yourself."

Yet White has a simple message for the many SCU students who balance their studies with full-time jobs: Life is good and every day is a blessing.

"I have learned that life is never easy. It has its joys and successes, and it has heartbreak and disappointments. I just keep on keeping on and try to not let problems weigh me down. I prefer to see problems as opportunities."

周四，韩国朝万大学首任校长克里斯托弗·怀特（Christopher White）荣获首尔网络大学授予的荣誉博士学位，以表彰他在教育领域的杰出贡献。怀特与朝万大学的渊源始于1995年，当时他通过该校名誉董事长李世成（Lee Se-ung）与该校结缘。怀特表示，双方共同致力于拓展高等教育机会和国际关系，这份荣誉正是友谊与理解的结晶。他还回忆起曾帮助二十多名来自圣地的巴勒斯坦基督教学生接受高等教育。

怀特拥有亚特兰大埃默里大学宗教学博士学位。

他曾担任埃隆大学副校长、加德纳-韦伯大学第十任校长、乔万大学第二十二任校长兼首任名誉校长。

怀特目前是安德森大学国际合作高级研究员。

怀特表示，他担任大学校长期间最有成就感的部分是为来自耶路撒冷、伯利恒和拉马拉的二十多名巴勒斯坦基督教学生提供大学教育。

怀特描述了领导的三个代价：做出可能伤害他所关心的人的艰难决定；尽管他努力，却仍然不被人喜欢；以及在没有机会为自己辩护的情况下被人误解。

发布于2026年10月26日韩国时间上午7:00

周四，在首尔江北区首尔网络大学（SCU）校园内，M·克里斯托弗·怀特博士（左）手持首尔网络大学授予的教育学荣誉博士学位证书，与妻子琳达·弗莱明·怀特合影。照片由首尔网络大学提供。

对于乔万大学首任校长克里斯托弗·怀特来说，近五十年的高等教育生涯一直秉持着这样的信念：教育应该为每个人创造机会，无论他们的背景或经济状况如何。

这种理念在他童年时期于美国佐治亚州的一个小镇扎根。他的父亲是一位小企业主，他从小就耳濡目染，懂得了努力工作、诚实守信、彬彬有礼和尊重他人的重要性。

“我从小就被教导要胸怀大志，无论梦想会把我带向何方都要去追求，”怀特回忆起家人如何鼓励他追求高等教育时说道。

周四，琳达·弗莱明·怀特在首尔江北区首尔网络大学（SCU）校园内接受该校颁发的感谢牌匾后留影。左起依次为：首尔网络大学校长李恩珠、M·克里斯托弗·怀特博士、琳达·弗莱明·怀特以及首尔网络大学董事会主席李相均。图片由首尔网络大学提供。

这种鼓励让他走上了一条职业道路，他先是担任宗教教授，然后进入大学行政管理部门，最终晋升到高级领导职位。

怀特拥有亚特兰大埃默里大学宗教学博士学位，曾任埃隆大学副校长、加德纳-韦伯大学第十任校长、乔万大学第二十二任校长兼首任名誉校长。他目前是安德森大学国际合作高级研究员。

周四，怀特因其在教育领域的贡献而被首尔网络大学（SCU）授予荣誉博士学位，他与该大学也有着超过 30 年的联系。

“我非常高兴看到这所大学从最初的默默无闻发展成为如今的学术重镇，”怀特说道。“获得荣誉博士学位是我人生中的一件大事，我既感到荣幸又充满感激。从很多方面来说，这都是友谊、鼓励和国际理解的结晶。”

周四，在首尔江北区首尔网络大学（SCU）校园内举行的荣誉博士学位授予仪式上，M·克里斯托弗·怀特博士正在演奏钢琴。图片由首尔网络大学提供。

他与圣克拉拉大学的渊源始于1995年，当时一位担任大学校长的朋友将他介绍给了该校名誉董事长李世成。两人一见如故，作为虔诚的基督徒，他们都重视家庭和传统，因此惺惺相惜。

“我们都希望为尽可能多的人提供接受高等教育的机会，尤其是那些经济条件有限的人。我们都重视国际关系。我们都拥有远大的理想，以及将这些梦想变为现实的勇气，”怀特说道。

怀特补充说，他对李将他父亲创办的高中发展成为一所配套大学的远见卓识印象深刻。“他始终拥有如此伟大的远见，并且有勇气付诸行动来实现这一愿景。”

对怀特而言，人际关系的重要性远不止于与李的关系。大学在规模、质量和财务方面的增长固然重要，但他作为大学校长最宝贵的经历还是与人建立的联系。

怀特表示，其中最有意义的事情是为来自圣地（包括耶路撒冷、伯利恒和拉马拉）的二十多名巴勒斯坦基督教学生提供大学教育的机会。

“这些学生天资聪颖，却缺乏教育资源。巴勒斯坦基督徒在圣地的生活非常艰难。如今，他们已成为遍布世界各地的医生、科学家、教育家等等。”

但怀特说，领导岗位并非总是充满回报。虽然他从未计划过，但他一生中却总是被推到这样的岗位上。

周四，在首尔江北区首尔网络大学（SCU）校园内，M·克里斯托弗·怀特博士（左）与该校校长李恩珠合影，照片中怀特博士手持教育学荣誉博士学位证书。（图片由首尔网络大学提供）

“成为领导者是有代价的。我从某个早已被人遗忘的来源中发现了领导的三大代价，对此深有感触。首先，你必须做出艰难的决定，这些决定可能会对你关心的人产生负面影响。其次，即使你竭尽全力为大多数人谋求最大利益，你仍然会遭到他人的厌恶。第三，你会被人误解，而且并非总有机会为自己辩护。”

但怀特想对许多一边学习一边全职工作的圣克拉拉大学学生传达一个简单的信息：生活很美好，每一天都是一种恩赐。

“我明白人生从来都不容易。它有快乐和成功，也有心碎和失望。我只能继续前行，努力不让问题压垮我。我更愿意把问题看作是机遇。”