Doug served as president of Warren Wilson College for 15 years at a time of unprecedented growth and program development.  He also serves as an AGB Consultant and teaches at the CIC Annual New Presidents Institute. As such, he assists independent college and university governing boards in becoming more effective, cohesive and strategic in carrying out their responsibilities.  He facilitates interactive board assessment retreats with an emphasis on the importance of the board working within the context of the distinctive institutional culture, legacy and mission. Doug also works with the board leadership and the president in facilitating comprehensive presidential assessments and presidential coaching. 

Doug has served many organizations including:  Council of Independent Colleges, North Carolina Independent College and University Association, Association of Presbyterian Colleges and Universities, and AGB Presidents Advisory Council.  He has served on the Board of Trustees at Berea College and the University of North Carolina at Asheville, is Trustee Emeritus and chaired the Education Committee at Johnson C. Smith University and has served as a Vice Chancellor and faculty member at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte receiving the teaching excellence award.  Doug has also been recognized by the governor of North Carolina with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award, has served as the Co-editor of The North Carolina Atlas:  Portrait for a New Century and is the co-author, with Scotland’s Fiona Ritchie, of the book, "Wayfaring Strangers: The Musical Connections of Scotland/Ireland and the Appalachians."

Doug received his B.A. from Davidson college and received his MBA and Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.