Palm Beach Atlantic University

Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA) is a private Christian university located in West Palm Beach, Florida. It was founded in 1968 and began as part of a local Baptist church. Over time, it became a nondenominational school, meaning it welcomes students from all backgrounds. The university has nine colleges that focus on liberal arts and some professional studies.

In 2024, about 2,600 students were enrolled as undergraduates at PBA. The university’s first building made just for them was finished in 1982, after using many different places before that. There is also a smaller campus in Orlando.

PBA has eighteen sports teams that compete in NCAA Division II. The university is not to be confused with Florida Atlantic University, which is a different school.

History

Palm Beach Atlantic University started in 1968 when Jess C. Moody, a pastor, created it. He led the university until its first class graduated in 1972, then left to focus on his church work. Over the years, many leaders have helped the university grow.

In 2020, Dr. Debra Schwinn became the first woman to lead the university. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, the university stayed open for in-person learning. They helped students who got sick by delivering meals and organizing support so they could recover at home.

Campus

Palm Beach Atlantic University’s campus is in West Palm Beach, Florida. The first building made just for the university, called the W.G. Lassiter Jr. Student Center, was finished in 1982. More buildings, like Johnson Hall and Sachs Hall, were added in 1989. New campuses were opened in Orlando and Wellington in 2002, but the Wellington campus stopped operating in 2017.

The university has many places for students to live, such as Baxter Hall and Oceanview Hall. There are also many buildings for classes, like Vera Lea Rinker Hall and the Lloyd L. Gregory School of Pharmacy. In 2022, the university started a plan called “God-Sized Dreams” to add more programs and special spaces. In early 2024, they began building the Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Business Hall, which is the first of four big projects in this plan.

The university also has a large sports area called the Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Athletic Campus. It opened in 2014 and was finished in 2017. This campus has facilities for training and hosting sports events.

Growth

Palm Beach Atlantic University has grown a lot in recent years. In 2024, it had over 4,100 students from more than 80 countries. The university also helped bring more than $435.6 million to the local economy.

In June 2024, PBA was ranked third in the country for growth in new students. With this growth, PBA plans to build new buildings, including a business hall, a performing arts center, a welcome center, and a health sciences complex.

Academics

Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA) offers over 100 programs for students to study through nine different schools. These include the Rinker School of Business, the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and the School of Health Professions, among others.

The university also has seven special centers that help students learn more about important topics like money management, leadership, and science. These centers support the learning at PBA.

Ministry life

Chapel at PBA happens four times a week from Monday to Thursday at 11 a.m. in the DeSantis Family Chapel. All full-time students need to attend 24 chapel sessions each year.

PBA has a program called "Workship" where students help others in the community and around the world. Since 1968, students have worked with over 200 groups in Palm Beach County and have reached a big milestone of 4 million hours of service in spring 2024.

The university also offers mission trips every year. Students can travel during the summer or spring break to different countries to help others through various activities like performing arts, construction, and medical help.

Athletics

Main article: Palm Beach Atlantic Sailfish

The athletic teams at Palm Beach Atlantic University are called the Sailfish. Their colors are navy blue and white. They compete in NCAA Division II, mostly in the Sunshine State Conference since 2015. Some teams, like track and field, compete independently because the conference does not sponsor those sports.

PBA offers 18 different sports for men and women, including baseball, basketball, soccer, and more. The university has a special athletic campus with many facilities for these sports, including fields, courts, and training rooms.

Facilities

PBA's Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Athletic Campus has beach volleyball, soccer, lacrosse, baseball, softball, tennis, and running trails as well as a new state of the art weight and training rooms. PBA's 34,000 sq ft (3,200 m²) building houses locker rooms and meeting rooms as well as PBA Athletics offices.

Mascot

The sailfish is a fast fish with a tall dorsal fin. When the university was founded in 1968, leaders chose nautical themes for the teams, and the sailfish became the mascot, shown in the university’s athletics logo.

Notable alumni

Palm Beach Atlantic University has helped many people achieve great things. Some well-known graduates include Lizbeth Benacquisto, who works in the Florida Senate, and Grant Horvat, a golfer and YouTuber. Others include Victoria Jackson, an actress who was once part of Saturday Night Live, and Ruthie Ann Miles, a Broadway actress who won a 2015 Tony Award for The King & I. The university also counts among its alumni Brian Mast, who serves in the U.S. House of Representatives, and Martin David Kiar, the Broward County Property Appraiser. Additionally, author and speaker Jennifer Rothschild, violinist Susan Sherouse, and Florida House of Representatives member Priscilla Taylor all graduated from PBA. The contemporary Christian music band Tenth Avenue North also got its start there.