David A. Armstong (speaker)

David A. Armstrong, J.D., is the tenth president of St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens, FL. He was hired in July of 2018 and was installed as president on March 20, 2019. Since the fall of 2018, the university’s overall enrollment has increased by 50% since the fall of 2018.Armstrong has led five years of incoming undergraduate enrollment. 
==Early Life==
David A. Armstrong was born in Cleveland, Ohio, into a large Catholic family with roots in Germany, Ireland, Croatia, and Scotland. His mother and father grew up in a poor neighborhood of east Cleveland. His father was the oldest of four children, and his mother was the oldest of seven.
Armstrong has four older brothers and two younger sisters. All of them attended Catholic grade schools and Catholic high schools. Armstrong and his siblings attended Catholic colleges, and two earned advanced degrees.
Armstrong graduated from St. Peter Chanel High School in Bedford, Ohio, where his four older brothers also attended. Like his brothers, Armstrong played football for the St. Peter Chanel Firebirds.
==Education==
Armstrong received his bachelor's degree in political science in 1986 from Mercyhurst University. He received his juris doctor law degree in 1989 from Cleveland State University Cleveland-Marshall College of Law.
==Career==
While still in law school, Armstrong became an assistant football coach at St. Peter Chanel High School. After earning his law degree, he became an assistant football coach at Mercyhurst University.
After leaving Mercyhurst, he became the head football coach and athletic director at Thiel College from 1997-2000. He then served as the athletic director at Holy Name High School until 2003.
From 2003 to 2013, Armstrong was Vice President and General Counsel at Notre Dame College. From 2013 to 2018, Armstrong served as a president at Thomas More University. Since 2018, Armstrong has served as a president at St. Thomas University, Miami, FL. 
===Achievements===
Armstrong is known for speaking on future trends in higher education law and Title IX. He has led a career to ensure small, faith-based colleges and universities thrive in the modern concept of higher education. He has supported colleges and institutions in obtaining corporate partnerships, faculty innovation, and increased donor and alumni engagement.
====Organizations====
President Armstrong serves on the boards of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU), The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida (ICUF), Students ACES, the Florida Council of 100, and the Florida Tax Watch.
He serves on the Orange Bowl Committee and is a member of the Beacon Council’s Board of Directors and Academic Leaders Council. Armstrong is also a member of the Sun Conference Executive Committee, the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, The South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and The Broward Workshop.
==Personal Life==
President Armstrong is married to Leslie Armstrong, a former special education teacher with 18 years of experience in urban education. He has two children, David Balthazar and Johanna Marie.
Category:Presidents
Category:People from Cleveland, Ohio
Category:Mercyhurst University alumni
Category:American people