St. Thomas president who left amid inquiry lands top role at Keiser University

It didn’t take long for former St. Thomas University President David Armstrong to find a new leadership role.

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Eight days after Armstrong announced his resignation from Miami Gardens-based St. Thomas University, another South Florida college named him president of its flagship campus.

Armstrong will lead the West Palm Beach campus of Keiser University, a private, primarily remote university.

Though Keiser University is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, its primary on-campus experience for students is at its West Palm Beach location. As of 2024, about 4% of its 18,500 undergraduate students lived on-campus, according to U.S. News & World Report.

Armstrong’s new role comes on the heels of controversy at St. Thomas University, a private Catholic university he led for eight years. In July, Armstrong was placed on leave as the university investigated claims he violated university policy. University officials never revealed the nature of the alleged violation.

In the wake of Armstrong’s resignation last week, St. Thomas University’s board elevated Father Rafael Capo, who was previously vice president for Mission and Ministry and dean of Theology, as interim president while it conducts a national search for a new president.

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A spokesperson for Keiser University did not immediately respond to a question on how leaders viewed the investigation.

Keiser University began as a for-profit enterprise, but switched to non-profit in 2011.

In a statement, Keiser University leaders highlighted eight straight years of enrollment growth Armstrong oversaw at St. Thomas.

“Dr. Armstrong is a proven higher education leader who understands how to build strong institutions while keeping students at the center of every decision. His record of expanding opportunity, strengthening academic programs, and connecting universities with the communities they serve makes him an outstanding choice to lead our Flagship Campus into its next chapter,” Keiser University Chancellor Arthur Keiser wrote.

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