51����

JACKSON, Tenn. — April 5, 2024 — 51���� trustees during their April 5 meeting celebrated the 10-year anniversary of Union President Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver, granted tenure and promotions to several professors, approved a $94.8 million budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year and voted to discontinue a few low-enrollment programs.

At an April 4 dinner in the Carl Grant Events Center, trustee and student leaders spoke about Oliver and what he has meant to them personally and to 51����. Oliver became Union’s 16th president upon his election to the position in 2014.

“The expressions of gratitude tonight are a testament to God’s goodness to this university through sending us Dr. Dub and Susie Oliver,” said Jeff Perkins, chairman of Union’s Board of Trustees. “Dub Oliver is an outstanding leader and a godly man of conviction who has served Union faithfully. We are thankful for the past decade that he and Susie have invested in Union, and we look forward to many more years of his leadership.”

As a gift to the Olivers to mark their 10 years of service, trustees will install 10 swings in various locations across the campus by the end of the summer. Perkins unveiled a model of the swings, which will be inscribed, “With gratitude and appreciation for Dr. Dub and Susie Oliver and their 10 years of service and dedication to 51����. ‘Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. – Philippians 1:3.’”

“We are grateful for your love for us and your kindness to us,” Oliver said. “The opportunity to serve together over these 10 years has been a sweet blessing from the Lord. 51���� is a special place, and we will continue to trust the Lord to provide for us in the days ahead as we seek to build an institution that honors Christ in all things.”

In their Friday meeting, trustees approved 13 professors for emeritus status, an unusually high number this year as several professors took advantage of an early retirement incentive offered by the university. Emeritus status may be awarded to Union faculty who are retired from the university, held at least the rank of assistant professor, completed at least 15 years of full-time service, demonstrated excellence in their work and are recommended by the department chair and dean.

Those granted emeritus status were Sandra Brown, associate professor of nursing; Jeannie Byrd, professor of library service; George DeMaagd, professor of pharmacy practice; Patricia Hamilton, professor of English; Randy Johnston, university professor of chemistry; Terry McRoberts, university professor of music; Nita Mehr, dean and professor of social work; Sheila Mitchell, dean for the College of Pharmacy; R. Kelvin Moore, university professor of biblical studies; Harry L. Poe, Charles Colson Professor of Faith and Culture; Mary Anne Poe, university professor of social work; David Vickery, university professor of psychology; and Jean Marie Walls, chair and professor of language.

All of those approved for emeritus status have announced their retirement in 2024.

Trustees approved tenure for eight professors: Ashley Blair, associate professor of communication arts; Jennifer Byrd, associate professor of pharmacy practice; Cody Curtis, associate professor of composition and theory; Allison Davis, professor of nursing; Jennifer Delk, associate professor of nursing; Duncan Nicol, associate professor of marketing; Teresa Tritt, associate professor of education; and Faith Zamamiri-Davis, associate professor of biology.

Thirteen faculty members were promoted. Gavin Richardson in the Department of English was promoted to university professor. Promoted to professor were Santhosh Abraham and Colene Trent in the McAfee School of Business, Cathy Ammerman in the College of Nursing and Jason Crawford in the Department of English.

Promoted to associate professor were Austin Camp and Taylor Mathis in the College of Pharmacy; Mollie Carter in the Department of Psychology; Jason Cox in the School of Social Work; Dana Dorris and Kayla Lambert in the College of Nursing; Micah Fern in the Department of Biology; and Rebekah Whitaker in the Department of Communication Arts.

“We are blessed to have such outstanding professors at Union who help us advance our mission and provide our students with an excellent, Christ-centered education,” Oliver said. “We are grateful for their commitment to making a difference in the lives of our students and graduates.”

The $94.8 million budget approved by trustees is a $3.1 million increase over the current year’s operating budget of $91.7 million.

Trustees also voted to discontinue the intercultural studies major and minor, the physical science major, the physical science education minor, the rhetoric major and minor and the TESOL (teaching English to speakers of other languages) major and minor, due to low interest in those programs.

Oliver said that decision stemmed from recommendations by the respective departments and is in keeping with one of the priorities in “Protinus,” the university’s current strategic plan, to “streamline curricula, consolidate programs and evaluate low enrollment programs.”

The small number of students currently enrolled in those programs will be able to finish out their studies.