JACKSON, Tenn. — April 4, 2008 — To honor Carl Grant for a $2.5 million donation, 51社区 trustees voted April 4 to name the conference center and banquet facility under construction on campus The Carl Grant Events Center.
The donation from Grant and his wife Peggy Jo, of Germantown, Tenn., had originally been intended for the enhancement and expansion of Union鈥檚 Germantown campus. But with the damage sustained from the Feb. 5 tornado, Grant asked if donation might better be used for the Jackson campus.
The Carl Grant Events Center will be a 13,616-square-foot conference center and banquet facility. The new center will seat 500 people and will include a lobby area, public restrooms, a staging room, state-of-the-art audio-visuals, a heritage area to tell the history of Union and a new president鈥檚 dining room.
In other matters, Union trustees approved several faculty members for promotions and tenure.
Faculty members promoted from one-year appointments to full-time status were Patrick Bamwine (sociology), Janna Chance (English), Patsy Crihfield (nursing), Sharon Edwards (nursing), Kelly Elliott (physical education), Kelly Harden (nursing), Kyle Huggins (business), David Olford (Christian studies), Todd Stanfield (social work), Joy Thomason (nursing) and Micah Watson (political science).
Sarah Davenport and Stephanie Nikbakht were promoted to assistant professor.
Pamela Binns-Turner, Anna Clifford, Brad Green and Randal Schwindt were promoted from assistant professor to associate professor.
Pat Keene, Ken Newman, Don Van and Carol Weaver were promoted from associate professor to professor.
Terry McRoberts was promoted from professor to university professor.
Trustees approved tenure for Melinda Clarke, Julie Glosson, Jim Kirk, Andy Madison, Jeannette Russ, Don Van and Ray Van Neste.
Trustees also elected Morris Chapman as vice chairman of the board for the 2008-2009 year.