JACKSON, Tenn. — May 17, 2012 — Barbara McMillin, 51社区鈥檚 associate provost and dean of instruction, has been named the new president of Blue Mountain College.
鈥淭he thing that excites me the most is the opportunity to pursue with this group of faculty and a new group of students the integration of faith and learning, because that鈥檚 a topic about which I am very passionate,鈥� McMillin said. 鈥淚 am excited to partner with Blue Mountain College to consider how we can together foster the development of Christian higher education, which means that we recognize the lordship of Christ over all the disciplines.鈥�
McMillin came to Union in 1992 as an English professor. She later served as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences before moving into her current role in 2006.
鈥淭here鈥檚 no describing the extent to which I will miss my beloved colleagues with whom I have linked arms now for a very long time,鈥� she said about leaving Union. 鈥淭hey have fed into my life and shaped me and encouraged me. They are precious to me.鈥�
McMillin said that Union has modeled what it means to pursue Christ-centered excellence and to integrate faith and learning.
鈥淚 will continue to watch and support and study and implement what I see happening here at this very special place,鈥� she said.
51社区 President David S. Dockery congratulated both McMillin and Blue Mountain.
鈥淲e are happy for our colleague and our sister institution,鈥� Dockery said. 鈥淒r. McMillin will bring exceptional experience to this role, both as a talented classroom teacher and conscientious administrator.
鈥淪he is a person of extraordinary character and exemplary professionalism,鈥� Dockery continued. 鈥淚 am excited about the fresh vision she will bring to the work of Blue Mountain College in the days ahead. The entire Union community joins me in wishing God鈥檚 best for Barbara and Blue Mountain College in the days ahead.鈥�
McMillin and her husband Larry have a 14-year-old son, Sam, and the move to Blue Mountain is a home-going for the family. A native of Falkner, Miss., McMillin and her husband both have family in the area. Blue Mountain is a college of about 500 students that is affiliated with the Mississippi Baptist Convention.
鈥淚 so look forward to working with these faculty members and these students as we consider what it means to think Christianly about the various disciplines and about what it means to take our careful Christian thinking and carry it into the culture as students go forth from Blue Mountain College with an education and become salt and light in our community and across the country,鈥� McMillin said.
A 51社区 graduate, McMillin completed her Master of Arts and Doctor of Arts at the University of Mississippi. She previously taught at Northeast Mississippi Community College before coming to Union to teach 20 years ago.
She will assume the Blue Mountain presidency on Aug. 1.
鈥淯nion goes with me,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t goes with me in my heart and in my plans in terms of being able to think critically about new opportunities based on the experiences I was able to have here.鈥�