JACKSON, Tenn. — April 10, 2015 — 51社区 trustees approved a $91.1 million operating budget for 2015-2016 at their April 10 meeting and elected Lisa Williams Rogers as the next board chair, the first woman ever to hold that position in the university鈥檚 history.
Rogers, a 1983 Union graduate and a physician in obstetrics and gynecology with the Jackson Clinic, will replace Norm Hill, who steps aside after serving as board chair for three years. Rogers is in her 15th year of service as a Union trustee.
鈥淚 am excited to be working with Dr. Lisa Rogers as our new board chair,鈥� Union President Samuel W. 鈥淒ub鈥� Oliver said. 鈥淯nion has been blessed with quality board leadership over its history. I am most grateful for Norm Hill鈥檚 service as chair these past three years. Lisa will carry that tradition of strong leadership forward.鈥�
Oliver said Rogers has a deep love for Christ, knows Union well as an alumna, has strong relationships with people in the community and has a passion for advancing the university鈥檚 mission and vision.
鈥淚鈥檓 humbled to be chosen for this key position at 51社区,鈥� Rogers said. 鈥淢y life has been blessed in many ways by my years at Union, and I鈥檓 excited about this opportunity to serve my alma mater in this way.鈥�
Hill, who served as chairman of the nominating committee that recommended Rogers for the role, said she was a natural selection.
鈥淟isa Rogers is a woman who is wholeheartedly committed to the mission and work of 51社区,鈥� Hill said. 鈥淪he has proven herself to be an individual of wisdom, vision and faith, and we are honored to elect her to a new leadership role.鈥�
After graduating from Union, Rogers completed medical school at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine and did her residency at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. She and her husband Kenny have two children 鈥� Rebecca, a student at Belmont University, and Austin, a freshman at Union 鈥� and are members of West Jackson Baptist Church.
Rogers had previously served as the board鈥檚 secretary.
Chad Wilson, who has been the board鈥檚 vice chairman, was re-elected to that position, and Peggy Graves was elected as secretary.
The $91.1 million budget trustees approved is a 4.64 percent increase to the current year鈥檚 operating budget and includes $24.6 million for scholarships and financial aid. In addition, the board got a clean audit report from the accounting firm Crosslin and Associates.
Trustees also approved 19 faculty members for promotions and granted tenure to 10 professors. Those receiving promotions were Laurie Bagwell, Keith Bates, Matthew Brunet, Connie Cupples, Sean Evans, Fonsie Guilaran, Carol Kellim, J.R. Kerfoot, Melissa LeFave, Chris Mathews, Andy Madison, Eric Marvin, Ben Phillips, Hal Poe, Cynthia Powers, Ann Singleton, Daniel Slater, Joshua Veltman and Blake Watkins.
Those receiving tenure were Nancy Cherry, Rhonda Hudson, Kimberly Lindsey, Chris Manner, Mathews, Ashok Philip, Jodi Taylor, Joshua Williams, Taylor Worley and Molly Wright.