Paul R. Corts

Paul R. Corts has had a distinguished career in higher education, government, and civic life in a wide variety of leadership positions. He retired in 2012 from the presidency of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU), the leading international association for Christian higher education, and was named President Emeritus. Prior to joining the CCCU, Corts served as president of two institutions, Palm Beach Atlantic University (FL) 1991-2002 and Wingate University (NC) 1983-1991. Prior to his presidential roles, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer at Oklahoma Baptist University 1978-1983 and as faculty member and in several academic administrative positions at Western Kentucky University 1968-78.

Corts also served as Assistant Attorney General for Administration with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) from 2002-2006, and was awarded the Edmund J. Randolph Award for outstanding service to DOJ. He served on the President’s Management Council, the Federal Prison Industries Board, the federal CFO Council, and other federal councils and boards. Corts served many professional organizations in higher education, including the American Council on Education (ACE) Secretariat, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) Secretariat, board chair of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida (ICUF), president of the American Association of Presidents of Independent Colleges and Universities (AAPICU), and chair of the Washington-based Executives in Church-Related Higher Education (ECHRE). He led numerous accreditation teams for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). He has also served on local, regional, national, and international boards as well as local and regional economic development boards and Florida’s Council of 100.

In semi-retirement, Corts currently serves as a consultant to higher education institutions and as an executive search consultant with AGB Search.

Born in Indiana, Corts grew up in Northeastern Ohio one of six boys in a family of seven children, led by parents Charles and Hazel Corts who were teachers and in ministry. He is author, co-author, or editor of a number of books. Corts holds a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown College, a master’s and Ph.D. from Indiana University. He and his wife, Diane Stevens Corts, have four children – Elizabeth Ann (deceased), Kenneth Stevens, Daniel Paul, and Susan Corts Hill.