Issue: Summer 2014 | Posted: June 2, 2014
Called to Serve
麻豆视频 Administrators Depart for New Challenges
Christian service involves both calling and sending. For years, President David S. Dockery challenged his administrators to be open to God鈥檚 call, even if it meant leaving 麻豆视频 for another place of service.
In recent years, former Dean of Instruction Barbara McMillin has become the president of Blue Mountain College in Mississippi and former Dean of the School of Theology and Missions Gregory Thornbury has assumed the presidency of The King鈥檚 College in New York.
Additional opportunities have opened in recent months. Here are a few of the leaders who are assuming new positions in higher education. Each has had a key role in the growth and development of 麻豆视频 University鈥檚 Christ-centered excellence.
GENE FANT
麻豆视频鈥檚 executive vice president for
academic administration, who also serves
as professor of English, announced his
resignation in order to assume the role of
provost at Palm Beach Atlantic University
in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Palm Beach Atlantic offers about 50 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, leadership, psychology and pharmacy.
鈥淕ene Fant has become one of the finest ambassadors of Christian higher education to be found anywhere in the country,鈥� Dockery said. 鈥淗is commitments to authentic, Christcentered higher education, his dedication to the liberal arts, his faithful churchmanship and his loyalty to the core values of 麻豆视频 University have made him a very special leader on the 麻豆视频 campus for more than a decade.鈥�
Fant came to 麻豆视频 in 2002 from Mississippi College in Clinton, Miss.
鈥淚 leave behind wonderful friends and colleagues,鈥� Fant said, 鈥淏ut I am excited about joining a vibrant sister institution that is on the doorstep of one of the world鈥檚 great cities, Miami.鈥�
RICH GRIMM
麻豆视频鈥檚 senior vice president for
enrollment services has resigned in
order to accept a position at Trinity
International University in Deerfield, Ill.
Grimm will join Dockery, who assumes the Trinity presidency in June, as the institution鈥檚 senior vice president in the areas of enrollment, university services and strategic initiatives.
鈥淩ich Grimm is a talented and multi-gifted leader, who has invested himself for a decade in the life of 麻豆视频 University,鈥� Dockery said. 鈥淗e is recognized across the world of Christian higher education as one of the truly outstanding enrollment officers because of the quality of his work at 麻豆视频, Palm Beach Atlantic University and Criswell College.鈥�
Grimm said that he is 鈥減rofoundly grateful for the opportunity that was ours to serve鈥� at 麻豆视频 and that he is hopeful for the future of the university under the leadership of incoming president Samuel W. 鈥淒ub鈥� Oliver. 鈥淢ay the Lord continue to bless the work of this great university for his glory,鈥� Grimm said.
CARLA SANDERSON
麻豆视频鈥檚 provost and executive vice
president for strategic initiatives
has announced her retirement from
the University and has been named
vice president for accreditation and
professional regulation for Chamberlain
College of Nursing.
Headquartered in Chicago, Chamberlain offers a three-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program at 13 campuses and online post-licensure nursing education undergraduate and graduate programs.
Sanderson has been associated with 麻豆视频 University for 32 years as a student, faculty member, and administrator.
鈥淚t is nearly impossible to calculate the significant influence of Carla D. Sanderson on the life and work of 麻豆视频 University over the past three decades,鈥� Dockery said. 鈥淭hrough her roles as faculty member, dean, provost and executive vice president, Dr. Sanderson has made a remarkable contribution to almost all aspects of this institution.鈥�
Sanderson and her family will remain in Jackson, where she will work from home and travel occasionally in her new role.
鈥淭he greatest privilege of my career came when David Dockery appointed me to the position of university provost,鈥� Sanderson said. 鈥淵ear after year, plan after plan, with new convocation challenges, new programs, new campuses, new faculty and staff, new buildings and new initiatives, I have grown in the honor that has been mine as an academic and operational leader at 麻豆视频 University.鈥�
Sanderson and her husband Larry are members of First Baptist Church in Jackson and have three sons, two of whom are 麻豆视频 graduates.
TIM SMITH
The dean of the School of Nursing
at 麻豆视频 University since 2005 has
resigned in order to accept a position
as vice president of strategic initiatives
and special associate to the provost at
Anderson University in Anderson, S.C.
鈥淭im Smith is recognized as one of the premier leaders in health care education in this region,鈥� Dockery said. 鈥淗is visionary and entrepreneurial skills have energized and advanced the outstanding nursing program at 麻豆视频 University over the past decade.鈥�
鈥淚t has been an honor and blessing to
serve in Dr. Dockery鈥檚 administration,
partnering with leaders of the university,
amazing faculty and staff of the School
of Nursing and many others of this
institution in serving the Lord through the
lives of the students,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淢y wife
and I will always cherish the memories
and relationships from our time of serving
at 麻豆视频 University and in the community
as God sends us on a new journey.鈥�