Union breaks ground on new library, adopts 3-year strategic planAnna Beth Morgan has been studying and learning about the library building process in general for years. She’s been planning and thinking about Union University’s new library specifically for months.
On April 12, those plans took a major step toward reality for Morgan, the director of Union’s library, as the university held a ceremonial groundbreaking for its new 60,000-square-foot library and academic resource center.
“It’s been wonderful to actually have the experience to put that learning in practice,” Morgan said. “It’s a really exciting phase to have achieved.” Renewing Minds: A Library Capital Campaign for Union University
Before entering the School of Pharmacy at Union University, Kate Wilcoxen was a high school chemistry teacher.
“A few months into pharmacy school, I realized how much I missed being in the classroom,” said Wilcoxen, a second-year student. “So I asked Dr. (Sean) King to help me prepare for a career in pharmacy academia.”
In April, Wilcoxen and King, as well as fourth-year student Erica ...
The Public Relations Society of America, the field’s premier professional organization, has conferred Certification in Education for Public Relations on Union University’s public relations undergraduate degree program.
Union’s program is the first in the International Association of Baptist Colleges and Universities and only the second in the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities t...
Union publishes first issue of Christian thought journalThe first edition of a new journal published by Union University, “Renewing Minds: A Journal of Christian Thought,” is now available.
“This is not like an academic journal in the sense that it is written just for other academics,” said Hunter Baker, associate dean of arts and sciences at Union and one of the journal’s senior editors. “This is an attempt for academics to make their ideas acce...
Union honors students for academic achievementUnion University presented more than 70 awards to students, faculty and staff May 4 at the annual Awards Day chapel service.
The Faculty of the Year Award went to English professor Gavin Richardson. Christy Young, Union’s administrative assistant to the dean of the School of Theology and Missions and coordinator of special programs, was awarded with the Staff Member of the Year Award.
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Campbell, Ross win TSWA awardsUnion University women’s basketball coach Mark Campbell was selected as the Tennessee Sports Writers Association Coach of the Year, while senior Lavanda Ross was picked as the TSWA Women’s College Basketball Player of the Year in awards announced April 27.
These awards are given annually and are based on votes by sports writers from across Tennessee. This marks the fourth straight TSWA Coach...
Bradshaw address highlights Union’s Golf and Gala eventOn a night when Andrew Luck was the first selection in the 2012 NFL draft, a former top pick told stories of his own playing days to a crowd of Union University supporters.
Terry Bradshaw, the former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback and current FOX Sports analyst, was the keynote speaker for Union’s fourth annual Roy L. White Legacy Golf and Gala at the Carl Perkins Civic Center April 26.
...
Aldridge wins NAIA’s Ike Pearson Award for outstanding SIDSteven Aldridge, sports information director at Union University, has been named the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics’ Clarence “Ike” Pearson Award winner for 2012.
The Ike Pearson Award, first given in 1977 and named for the former statistical crew chief for the NAIA men’s basketball national championship, is presented annually to an outstanding NAIA sports information dire...
New Dockery book on faith and learning: A ‘road map’ to a thriving Christian universityA new book edited by Union University President David S. Dockery asserts that faith and learning need not be separated into two spheres that have no bearing on each other, as is often the case at church-related colleges and universities.
“We believe that there is a way that faith and learning come together, recognizing that faith bears upon learning and serves as a window for how teaching ta...
Dockery, Union professors reflect on Colson’s legacyCharles Colson was a “leader among leaders who helped to shape a generation of evangelicals,” according to Union University President David S. Dockery.
Colson, founder of Prison Fellowship, author of more than 20 books and one of the most prominent evangelical leaders in the United States, died April 21 at age 80.
“His statesmanship served as a model for Christians across denominationa...
The Mentoring Coalition has declared April 22 as a day of prayer for the city’s youth, according to Union University’s Mary Anne Poe.
The Mentoring Coalition is a group of people committed to the well-being of high-risk young people in the Jackson community. The group is facilitated by the Center for Just and Caring Communities at Union University, which is directed by Poe.
Poe said th...
Williams wins IPDA varsity national championshipUnion University sophomore Abby Williams won the International Public Debate Association national championship in the “varsity debate” category at the IPDA national tournament April 12-15 at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas.
In the final round, Williams defeated Nathan Johnston from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. The two debated the resolution, “Hydraulic fracturing ...
Representatives from 18 area school systems will meet with prospective teachers April 19 at Union University’s Teacher Expo 2012.
The event will take place from 1:30-3:30 p.m. in the Carl Grant Events Center. All graduate and undergraduate education students as well as students in critical shortage areas such as math, biology, physics, chemistry, Spanish, French and English as a second langu...
Union breaks ground on new library, adopts 3-year strategic planAnna Beth Morgan has been studying and learning about the library building process in general for years. She’s been planning and thinking about Union University’s new library specifically for months.
On April 12, those plans took a major step toward reality for Morgan, the director of Union’s library, as the university held a ceremonial groundbreaking for its new 60,000-square-foot library a... Renewing Minds: A Library Capital Campaign for Union University
Art students assist Benson with Georgia sculpture installationA ring of about 30 people in downtown Columbus, Ga., in March stood watching a group of six from Union University’s art department who were working with two-by-four pieces of wood.
Over the course of one weekend, the team estimated that nearly 1,000 people stopped by to surround them and quench their curiosity with questions for the team.
“Tic Tac Toe,” an interactive sculpture desig...
Smith offers tips for integrating faith, businessThrough four different careers in business, Harry Smith learned many different principles that allowed him to lead others with humility, fairness and integrity.
He shared those lessons with more than 200 in attendance at Union University’s Business Through the Eyes of Faith luncheon April 10 in the Carl Grant Events Center. Sponsored by the McAfee School of Business Administration, the even...
Union to break ground on new library April 12Union University will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for its new library April 12 at 5 p.m.
“While it will still be a few more months before there is regular construction activity on the site, the ceremonial groundbreaking provides a hopeful and meaningful indicator for the Union community that the project continues to move forward from planning to implementation in a timely manner,” Union U... Renewing Minds: A Library Capital Campaign for Union University
Union students support orphan care through Red Bus ProjectEvery 18 seconds, a child in the world becomes an orphan – adding to the population of 140 million orphans worldwide.
Caleb Chapman wanted to do something to raise awareness among college students about the plight of orphans, so he launched the Red Bus Project – a double-decker bus turned thrift store that’s touring college campuses this spring.
The bus stopped at Union University Apri...
Good works for God’s glory: Union students minister worldwide during spring breakPeople began lining up at 1 a.m. By the time the 9 a.m. opening had arrived, the line included more than 150 people who had come for a supply of food from the Sumner County Food Bank.
At the monthly giveaway held at Liberty Baptist Church in Gallatin, Tenn., needy Sumner County residents receive a box of meat, a box of dry goods and a box of bread and pastries – plus apples, oranges and onio...
Smith to speak at Union luncheon on business and faithHarry Smith, chairman of Schilling Enterprises in Memphis, Tenn., will be the guest speaker at Union’s Business Through the Eyes of Faith luncheon April 10.
The event is designed to encourage and equip members of the West Tennessee business community to integrate their Christian faith into their workplaces.
Smith is a past chairman of the Union Board of Trustees, and is the author of ...
Union University’s School of Social Work will hold Social Work Awareness Day March 29, with local social service agencies setting up displays in the Carl Grant Events Center.
The event begins at 10:30 a.m. and lasts until 2:30 p.m. and is being held in recognition of March as National Social Work Month.
For more information, contact Ginny Schwindt at (731) 661-5701 or vschwindt@uu.edu....
New Poe book explores Edgar Allan Poe’s struggle with spiritual questionsA new book by Union University professor Hal Poe examines one of the lesser-known works of his ancestor Edgar Allan Poe and shows that the infamous fiction writer dealt with deep spiritual questions.
“Evermore: Edgar Allan Poe and the Mystery of the Universe” comes from years of Hal Poe’s study on the writer’s work. Hal Poe’s new book comes from his exploration of Edgar Allan Poe’s “Eureka,”...
Bradshaw to headline Union’s annual Roy L. White Legacy Golf and GalaFormer NFL quarterback and current FOX Sports analyst Terry Bradshaw will be the keynote speaker for Union University’s fourth annual Roy L. White Legacy Golf and Gala April 26.
Bradshaw, who was the first quarterback to win four Super Bowl championships during his years with the Pittsburgh Steelers, will speak at a banquet and program beginning at 6 p.m. at the Carl Perkins Civic Center in ...
Pulitzer Prize-winner Dennis to give poetry reading March 27Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Carl Dennis will give a reading at Union University March 27.
Dennis is a professor of English and the writer-in-residence at the University at Buffalo. He won the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for poetry for his collection “Practical Gods.” He was educated at Oberlin College, the University of Chicago and the University of Minnesota.
Dennis received a Doctor of Ph...
Foundation board chairman Weeks dies at 63Mike Weeks, chairman of the Union University Foundation board and former chairman of Union’s Board of Trustees, died March 17 at age 63 after a battle with cancer.
“We thank God for the faithful life and witness of Mike Weeks,” Union University President David S. Dockery said. “We are especially grateful for his years of loyal service in behalf of the Union University Board of Trustees, as ...
Requests for official transcripts from Union University may now be completed online.
Union has partnered with National Student Clearinghouse to offer this service to current and former students. With the new feature, students will be able to order transcripts online, track their orders and receive status updates via e-mail or text message notifications.
Transcripts may be ordered at <...
‘God and the Cosmos’ by Poe, Davis now availableUnion University professors Hal Poe and Jimmy Davis published their fourth book together -- “God and the Cosmos: Divine Activity in Space, Time and History” -- further explaining the connection between faith and science.
Davis, vice president for the regional campus at Germantown and university professor of chemistry, said the book, which was released in February, deals with issues brought u...
Union launches iPad component, new concentrations to Master of Education degreeUnion University’s School of Education will offer two new concentrations for its Master of Education degree starting in June, both of which will integrate the newest iPad technology.
“We are on the cutting edge of some wonderful innovations in teacher education,” said Tom Rosebrough, executive dean of Union’s College of Education and Human Studies.
Beginning in June, all M.Ed. students wil...
In May 2010 a record flood hit Nashville, Tenn., and much of middle Tennessee. Over the course of a few days, water damaged or destroyed thousands of homes and landmarks, including the Gaylord Opryland Hotel.
More than 20 people died in the floods and tornados that hit the South that weekend.
This February, almost two years after the flood, Union University art professor Lee Benson an...
Begala lauds 'miracle of our democracy’ in Union Forum addressDespite political campaigns that are often characterized by mudslinging and rancor, living in a democracy is an “unearned blessing,” CNN political analyst Paul Begala said March 7 at Union University.
“Even when it’s all ugly and difficult and hateful and disappointing, I feel it’s my job sometimes to try to lift us all up and celebrate the miracle of our democracy,” Begala said.
Begal...
Former Defense Secretary Gates to headline Union’s 15th annual Scholarship BanquetRobert M. Gates, U.S. secretary of defense for two presidents and former president of Texas A&M University, will be the keynote speaker for Union University’s 15th annual Scholarship Banquet Oct. 4 at the Carl Perkins Civic Center in Jackson, Tenn.
Gates served as defense secretary from 2006-2011, first for George W. Bush and then for Barack Obama. He is the only secretary of defense in U.S....
‘The Visit’ runs March 8-13 at UnionThe Union University Players will present “The Visit,” a tragic comedy by Friedrich Durrenmatt, from March 8-13 in the W.D. Powell Theatre on the Union campus.
Premiering in Switzerland in 1956, “The Visit” is the story of an old lady who returns home to exact merciless vengeance on her old flame.
The show will begin at 7:30 p.m. each night, with the exception of the performance on Sun...
Rogers selected as Image’s artist of the monthImage journal has named Bobby Rogers, professor of English and writer in residence at Union University, as its artist of the month for February.
“Bobby C. Rogers has an uncanny ability to wring what is profound and surprising from what appears humble and ordinary,” the journal said. “In the words of Andrew Hudgins, he is ‘a near mystic of the domestic.’”
Image is a literary and arts qu...
Leithart to lecture at Union March 5-6Peter Leithart, senior theology scholar at New Saint Andrews College in Moscow, Idaho, will lecture at Union University March 5-6.
Leithart is the author of several books, including “Defending Constantine,” “Deep Exegesis,” “Athanasius,” “Against Christianity” and many others. He serves as a contributing editor for Touchstone and First Things magazines.
He earned his bachelor’s degree...
Union friend, supporter Hundley dies at 88Bob Hundley, emeritus trustee of Union University, died Feb. 24 at age 88.
A 1948 Union graduate and a longtime trustee, Hundley and his wife Mary Ruth provided the funding for the academic support center on the Union campus, called the Hundley Center, which opened in 2005.
“I especially enjoyed hearing Bob talk about his memories of George Savage, Union's grand old man, and John Jete... Mary Ruth and Bob Hundley: Union's First Responders
Union University will host a social work conference on human trafficking March 1.
“Human Trafficking: Seeing-Responding” is designed to educate participants about the human trafficking occurring in Tennessee, with sessions addressing current efforts to end the practice from the view of law enforcement, community advocates and survivor aftercare organizations.
The conference will benefi...
Patterson analyzes thought and influence of J.R. Graves in new biographyA new biography of J.R. Graves by Union University professor James Patterson examines a man the author calls “a major shaper of Southern Baptist life in the 19th century.”
“James Robinson Graves: Staking the Boundaries of Southern Baptist Identity,” published by B&H Academic as part of the “Studies in Baptist Life and Thought” series, is now available for purchase.
Patterson, universit...
An informal, non-legal description for the Southern Baptist Convention as “Great Commission Baptists” will emphasize the denomination’s commitments to the Great Commission, Union University President David S. Dockery said Feb. 20.
Dockery was a member of a task force appointed by SBC President Bryant Wright to study the possibility of changing the SBC’s name. In its report to the SBC Executi...
‘Like lambs headed for slaughter’: Shuttlesworth recounts stories from civil rights movementSephira Bailey Shuttlesworth shared stories of resolution from her childhood and the life of her late husband, Fred Shuttlesworth, in the segregated South at the fifth annual Black History Month program at Union University Feb. 13.
Sephira Shuttlesworth, a Union University alumna and Jackson, Tenn., resident, addressed nearly 200 black, white and Latino students, faculty, staff and other mem...
Mitchell to congressional committee: Government mandate an ‘unconscionable intrusion’A U.S. government mandate requiring religious organizations to provide contraceptive and abortifacient coverage for employees is “an unconscionable intrusion by the state into the consciences of American citizens,” Union University professor C. Ben Mitchell told a congressional committee Feb. 16.
“Contrary to portrayals in some of the popular media, this is not just a Catholic issue,” Mitche...
Union University’s Master of Social Work degree has been accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, the only accrediting body of social work education in the country.
Janet Furness, associate dean of the School of Social Work and MSW program director, received the notification Feb. 13.
“We’re delighted that Union is on the cutting edge of some pretty exciting opportunities for...
Mitchell to testify before congressional committee Feb. 16Union University professor C. Ben Mitchell will testify before a congressional committee Feb. 16 regarding the Department of Health and Human Services’ recent decree that religious organizations provide contraceptives and abortifacient drugs to their employees.
Mitchell, the Graves Professor of Moral Philosophy, will speak to the House of Representatives’ Committee on Oversight and Governme...
Chute, Union students earn high honors at SEJCUnion University journalism professor Michael Chute was named Journalism Educator of the Year and Union journalism students captured 14 awards in the “Best of the South” competition at this year’s Southeast Journalism Conference.
The conference was held Feb. 9-11 at the University of Tennessee at Martin.
SEJC includes 68 member universities from eight states from North Carolina to Arka...
Shuttlesworth to speak at Union’s Black History Month program Feb. 13Sephira Bailey Shuttlesworth, a Union University alumnus and wife of the late Fred Shuttlesworth, will be the keynote speaker for Union’s fifth annual Black History Month program Feb. 13.
In addition to the program, Shuttlesworth will also be the lead facilitator for a luncheon and will speak in two classes Feb. 14.
A native of Jackson who earned her master’s degree from the University...
Union’s ACM group offers low-cost computer repairStudents and a professor in Union University’s computer science department have together repaired more than 100 computers for other members of the Union community, at low prices, in the past three years.
Max Haifei Li, associate professor of computer science, advertises the repair services he and the students provide. Then when students, faculty and staff bring their Microsoft or Apple compu...
Town and Gown series to examine media and politicsThe media’s role in the modern political process will be the topic for the next Town and Gown series at Union University from Feb. 6-March 5.
The Town and Gown series is an opportunity for community members interested in various topics to attend lectures and participate in discussions in a classroom setting. The classes are free and open to the public.
The lecture in the “Media, Politi...
McRoberts to present 20th annual faculty piano recitalTerry McRoberts, university professor of music at Union University, will perform his 20th annual faculty piano recital Feb. 7 at Union.
The program will feature works of Chinese composers, American composers and Chopin. During his fall semester research leave from teaching, McRoberts traveled to China, where he lectured on the piano music of Chopin and American composers, performed and resea...
Begala to headline Union Forum luncheon March 7CNN political analyst Paul Begala will speak at Union University March 7 as part of the ongoing Union Forum luncheon lecture series.
Begala is the author of several best-selling books, including “Buck Up, Suck Up, and Come Back When You Foul Up” and “Is Our Children Learning?” He is also a columnist for Newsweek and The Daily Beast and helped establish the political magazine George.
Hi...
King receives $10,000 AACP grant for pharmacy researchSean King, assistant professor of pharmaceutical sciences at Union University, was one of 18 recipients of the New Investigator Award given by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy.
The $10,000 grant provides start-up funding for research programs for new pharmacy faculty members.
“It was a great privilege to be a recipient of this year’s AACP New Investigator Award,” King s...
Union alum’s commercial a finalist in Doritos Super Bowl contestA Union University graduate has a chance to see a commercial he produced aired during this year’s Super Bowl.
Jimmy Duke, a 1998 Union graduate, produced the commercial entitled “Birds of Prey” with some friends from his church for the Doritos “Crash the Super Bowl” contest. In the commercial, a man starts acting like a bird of prey when he craves Doritos.
Duke is pastor of family mini...
New Dockery series to help university students reclaim the Christian intellectual traditionUnion University President David S. Dockery has been named the editor of a new series of books designed for Christian students and others on college and university campuses.
In “Reclaiming the Christian Intellectual Tradition: A Guide for Students,” published by Crossway, Dockery and other experts argue that vibrant, world-changing Christianity is not anti-intellectual but assumes a long tra...
Union students present papers at Phi Alpha Theta convention; Carls elected VPSeven Union University history students presented papers at the biennial Phi Alpha Theta convention Jan. 3-7 in Orlando, Fla., a meeting where Union’s chapter adviser Stephen Carls was elected the national vice president.
Phi Alpha Theta is a history honor society, and the convention drew more than 450 attendees from across the country. Union students who presented papers were Rebekah Anders...
Union students honor King legacy by serving communityUnion University students and staff members participated in three community service projects Jan. 16 in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.
In addition, a special chapel service held in the Carl Grant Events Center with guest speaker David Dark honored King’s legacy.
“This day is a unique opportunity to partner with those across our nation in service projects to various communities,” said...
Annual report highlights university’s work over past academic yearUnion University has released its annual report for the previous academic year, with highlights including Union’s plans for a new library, a permanent campus in Hendersonville, the transition to NCAA Division II and other key developments.
“While this Annual Report is quite informative, it only tells a portion of the full story about the record enrollment, recognitions and accomplishments th... Illuminating Minds: 2010-2011 Annual Report for Union University
Union produces, releases free audio BibleUnion University and LifeWay Christian Resources have released the “Reading God’s Story Audio Bible,” a recording of the entire Bible read by 38 members of the Union faculty and staff.
The audio Bible, in the Holman Christian Standard Bible translation, is part of the “Read the Bible for Life” biblical literacy initiative developed by George Guthrie, the Benjamin W. Perry Professor of Bible ...
Hansen receives Craig Service Award during Union’s December commencementLloyd Hansen has been locked into his hotel room in China and shot at in Lebanon.
Those are just a couple of his memorable experiences from a career spent in the energy field, a career that has taken him to dozens of countries and opened countless doors for him to share the gospel with others.
“When you establish a friendship, I have found, the Lord allows you to share the gospel,” sa...
Union holds special early ceremony for graduate ahead of Dec. 10 commencementCasie Pittman was torn when she found out her mission trip to Costa Rica was leaving in the early morning hours on the same day she was supposed to graduate from Union University.
She decided to proceed with the mission trip, meaning she will miss the opportunity to walk across the stage at West Jackson Baptist Church Dec. 10, along with about 300 other Union graduates, to receive her degree...
Alum recalls impact of Pearl Harbor attack on Union UniversityOn Dec. 7, 70 years have passed since a surprise Japanese air attack on Pearl Harbor killed about 2,400 American military personnel and civilians, prompting the United States to enter World War II.
As the anniversary neared, Union University alumnus John C. Huffman, who was a junior ministerial student that Sunday in 1941, recalled how the attack affected the university.
“I can re...
Union completes ‘Union 2012’ plan, unveils presidential portraitUnion University trustees celebrated the completion of the “Union 2012” strategic plan and unveiled a presidential portrait of David S. Dockery during their trustee meeting Dec. 2 on the university campus.
The “Union 2012” plan was the fourth strategic plan completed during the 16 years of the Dockery administration. Among the accomplishments of the three-year plan were the completion of Pro...
Southern Baptist universities and seminaries face significant challenges in the near future in areas such as theology and science, globalization and their relationship to churches, according to Union University President David S. Dockery.
“I don’t think we’ve ever faced bigger challenges than those that we face at this particular time,” Dockery said in a video address at the Evangelical Theo...
Larry Cox, a former vice president with the Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board, will address the topic of Islam and the Arab Spring at Union University Nov. 30.
The event, entitled “What Will Come of the Arab Spring?: Christianity, Islam and Cultural Change,” will begin at 4 p.m. in Harvey Auditorium, located in the Barefoot Student Union Building.
Cox now serves...
Union captures third straight ‘Best Delegation’ award at TISLDelegates from Union University to the 42nd General Assembly of the Tennessee Intercollegiate State Legislature earned the Best Delegation award for their role in the proceedings Nov. 17-20 at the State Capitol in Nashville.
TISL is a statewide organization formed in 1966 to give college students a voice in state government. The nonpartisan organization convenes a General Assembly each year,...
Joba Gobburu, a professor in the Schools of Pharmacy and Medicine at the University of Maryland, will speak at Union University Nov. 21 on the role of pharmacometrics in drug development.
Gobburu served in the Food and Drug Administration for 14 years and was most recently the director of the division of pharmacometrics there.
His address will begin at noon in the Carl Grant Events Ce...
Union alum Shackelford elected TBC presidentFred Shackelford, a 1999 Union University graduate and pastor of Springhill Baptist Church in Paris, Tenn., was elected president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention Nov. 15 during the TBC annual meeting at First Baptist Church in Hendersonville.
Shackelford previously served as the TBC vice president.
“I want to encourage pastors and I want to encourage churches to be about taking th...
Veneman wins NPPA’s Garland Educator AwardJim Veneman, assistant professor of communication arts and director of visual communications at Union University, has received the Robin F. Garland Educator Award from the National Press Photographers Association.
According to NPPA, the award is given for outstanding service as a photojournalism educator. Garland was a picture editor and war correspondent for the Saturday Evening Post until ...
Ashby family donates $1.8 million for student scholarshipsUnion University received a check for $1.8 million Nov. 9 from the estate of Robert and Dera Ashby.
Gary Grisham, president of BancorpSouth in Jackson, and Doug Roth, senior vice president and regional manager of BancorpSouth, delivered the check to Union University President David S. Dockery. The money will be used for student scholarships.
Dera Ashby died in 2009, and her husband pas...
Symphonic Band to hold fall concert Nov. 10Union University’s Symphonic Band will present its fall concert Nov. 10 at 7:30 p.m. in the G.M. Savage Memorial Chapel.
Michael Mann, in his first year as the band’s conductor, will lead the ensemble in works by Holst, Whitacre, Hazo and others.
Also featured in the concert will be trumpet soloist Dan Oxley. Oxley plays for the Nashville Praise Symphony and has toured the United Sta...
Union wraps up Homecoming 2011Hundreds of Union University alumni celebrated their annual Homecoming with a week of activities that culminated Nov. 5 in two basketball wins and the crowning of a new Homecoming queen.
Andi Schreiber, a senior from Murfreesboro, Tenn., was selected as the 2011 Homecoming queen and crowned at halftime of the Lady Bulldogs’ 82-45 win over the University of St. Francis (Ill.). She is the daug...
Brownsville pastor, Union dad Conway dies at 56Mark Conway, pastor of Zion Baptist Church in Brownsville and father of three Union University students, died Oct. 31 of a heart attack at age 56.
Conway and his wife, Lisa, have three daughters and one son. Their daughter Sarah Anne Conway graduated from Union in 2009, and their daughter Rachel Conway Stewart is a 2010 Union graduate. Their son David is a senior at Union. Their daughter Han...
Union gives back during 9th annual Campus and Community dayAbout 1,000 Union University students, faculty and staff members worked on more than 70 community service projects Nov. 1 as part of the ninth annual “Campus and Community: A Day of Remembrance and Service.”
Campus and Community day is an opportunity for Union to show its appreciation to the community for its assistance after tornadoes hit the campus Nov. 10, 2002, and Feb. 5, 2008. Followin...
Union’s 9th annual Campus and Community set for Nov. 1More than 1,000 Union University students, faculty and staff members will participate in about 70 service projects in Jackson and West Tennessee Nov. 1 as part of Union’s ninth annual “Campus and Community: A Day of Remembrance and Service.”
The event, part of Union’s Homecoming week of activities, is an opportunity for Union to show its appreciation to the community for its assistance after...
Berry College professor Peter Lawler will lecture at Union University Oct. 27 on the future of American individualism.
Lawler is the Dana Professor of Government at Berry College (Ga.)and author or editor of 15 books and more than 200 articles and chapters. He won the 2007 Weaver Prize in Scholarly Letters and served on President Bush’s Council on Bioethics from 2004-2009. His lecture is ent...
Union to celebrate Homecoming week Oct. 31-Nov. 5A family-friendly tailgate party, a new class of Sports Hall of Fame inductees and the class of 1962’s 50-year reunion will be the key features of Union University’s 2011 Homecoming week Oct. 31-Nov. 5.
Among the events that are part of Homecoming this year:
• “Union Night” on the Great Lawn Nov. 4, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. This family-oriented event will feature student organizations selli...
Union University is the fourth-ranked university in Tennessee, according to the third annual college rankings from StateUniversity.com.
Union follows Vanderbilt, Rhodes and Sewanee in the ranking, which is based on statistical analysis and comparison of student/faculty ratio, student retention, test scores and other critical factors.
Nationally, Union ranked 126th among the top 500 pri...
Elliot grateful for Union community support during breast cancer battleKelly Elliot remembers when she got the news in 2009.
She had just picked up her daughter from school when she received a call from the office where she had gone in for a biopsy after her baseline mammogram “showed something a little bit unusual.”
She pulled into a parking lot and stepped out of the vehicle into the January air so her children in the backseat would not have to hear th...
About 200 researchers and graduate students from across Tennessee will present their research results at the 121st meeting of the Tennessee Academy of Science, hosted by Union University Oct. 28-29.
Michael Gibson, professor of geology at the University of Tennessee at Martin, will be the plenary speaker at 1 p.m. Oct. 28 in Union’s Carl Grant Events Center. His address, "A Tale of Two Ocean...
‘Heaven’s Rain’ producer Douglass to speak at Union Oct. 24Brooks Douglass, the writer and producer of the film “Heaven’s Rain,” will be the featured speaker at the Remember Me Commemorative Walk for Homicide-Loss Survivors Oct. 24 at Union University.
Following the walk, Union will show “Heaven’s Rain,” and Douglass will answer questions from the audience.
“Heaven’s Rain” tells the story of the murder of Douglass’ parents and his journey tow...
Scroggins: Hope in God's future work drives faith and practiceEveryone experiences brokenness because he lives in a fallen world, Jimmy Scroggins told Union University students Oct. 19.
“You can sing the songs about Christ (being a gracious Savior), and yet there is just something about the deep effects of sin that, no matter how much you love Jesus, you just cannot put Humpty Dumpty back together again,” said Scroggins, senior pastor of First Baptist...
‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ runs Oct. 27-Nov. 1Union University’s theater department will present the Oscar Wilde comedy “The Importance of Being Earnest” Oct. 27-Nov. 1 in the W.D. Powell Theatre.
In the play, young Jack Worthing and his good friend Algernon find themselves in a ridiculous situation after their fiancées learn they are coincidentally engaged to the same man.
The show will begin at 7:30 p.m. each night, with the ex...
Union friend Carl Grant dies at 92Carl J. Grant, a friend and supporter of Union University, died Oct. 13 at age 92.
“Carl Grant was a very special friend to Union University,” Union President David S. Dockery. “His generous gifts provided numerous scholarship opportunities for our students. The Carl Grant Events Center on the Union campus will long symbolize Mr. Grant's magnificent kindness to Union.
“His strong work...
For the seventh straight year, Union University has been named one of America’s 100 Best College Buys by the Institutional Research and Evaluation Inc., an independent research and consulting organization.
The annual “America’s 100 Best College Buys” report evaluates academic quality and cost, and the newest findings are based on a survey of 1,449 accredited U.S. colleges and universities.
...
Business professors publish 65 research articles in five-year spanProfessors in Union University’s McAfee School of Business Administration have been published 65 times in top research journals over the past five years.
The vast majority of the articles have been in journals that have a 20 percent or lower acceptance rate, said Keith Absher, dean of the McAfee School of Business Administration. He added that the number of journal articles published in the...
Wood to lecture at Union Oct. 20Ralph C. Wood, university professor of theology and literature at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, will lecture at Union University Oct. 20.
Wood’s address is entitled “The Cruciform Beauty That Will Save the World.”
Wood is the author of several books, including “Chesterton: The Nightmare Goodness of God,” “Contending for the Faith: The Church’s Engagement with Culture” and “Flannery...
A Tribute: Fred Shuttlesworth (1922-2011)Each day people fly in and out of the Birmingham International Airport, rarely considering the airport's official name. A few years ago, city officials gave the airport a new name: the Shuttlesworth-Birmingham International Airport. My guess is that very few people who do know the name of the airport recognize its full significance, a significance which was brought into new focus this week.
...
Union to show ‘Race to Nowhere’ film Oct. 18Union University’s School of Education will hold a screening of the movie “Race to Nowhere” Oct. 18.
“Race to Nowhere,” created by first-time filmmaker Vicki Abeles, tells the stories of young people under tremendous amounts of stress, burned-out teachers and deeply frustrated parents.
According to the film’s official website, “Race to Nowhere” examines a culture in which cheating has...
Steve Jobs: An ElegyBy the time this article is published, a wave of obituaries on the life of Steve Jobs will have appeared in print and online. The assessments have rightly lionized him for what he was: a creative genius, entrepreneur, visionary and once-in-a-generation inspiration.
His iconic black mock turtleneck, blue jeans and tennis shoes – his gear during countless eagerly anticipated Apple product rel...
Blair urges renewed commitment to values that built Western cultureIn an age when Western civilization is facing acute challenges, Tony Blair said westerners must continue to hold strongly to their beliefs in freedom, democracy, the rule of law and equality.
“These values are what make our nations great,” Blair said Oct. 3 at Union University’s 14th annual Scholarship Banquet. “It sustains them now and will sustain them in the future. They are the things th...
Union announces $10 million gift for new libraryA $10 million lead gift by the Bill and Carol Latimer Foundation is the largest cash gift in Union University’s history and will provide funding for a new 60,000-square-foot library on the Union campus.
Union University President David S. Dockery announced the gift Oct. 3 at the 2011 Scholarship Banquet with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair at the Carl Perkins Civic Center.
“I... Renewing Minds: A Library Capital Campaign for Union University
Mathematics historian Glen Van Brummelin will be the featured speaker for Union University’s third annual Mathematics Lecture Series Oct. 4.
Van Brummelin, who serves as a mathematics tutor at Quest University Canada, is the past president and current vice president of the Canadian Society for History and Philosophy of Mathematics. He was a senior fellow at the Dibner Institute for History o...
Padelford’s ‘Bonhoeffer and Business Ethics’ book now available; signing set for Oct. 6For about 10 years, Walton Padelford taught a business ethics class at Union University. At some point during that span, he began to question how effectively he was doing it.
“Would it be possible for an atheist or a person from another tradition, like maybe a Hindu or Muslim, to teach this material and to do an excellent job in teaching it?” Padelford asked himself. “And in fact, to maybe ...
Anderson to lecture at Union Sept. 29Matthew Lee Anderson, author of “Earthen Vessels: Why Our Bodies Matter to Our Faith,” will lecture at Union University Sept. 29.
Anderson is the founder of the Mere Orthodoxy blog and writes regularly for Christianity Today, First Things and The City. His lecture is entitled “The (Physical) Body in Evangelical Practice and Politics.”
“Matthew Anderson’s latest book reminds us that our...
Baker to give Calihan Lecture Oct. 5Hunter Baker will give the 11th annual Calihan Lecture at Regent University in Virginia Beach, Va., Oct. 5.
The Calihan Lecture is delivered by the recipient of the Novak Award, a $10,000 prize given by the Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty. Baker, senior associate dean of arts and sciences and associate professor of political science at Union University, will speak on “S...
Summer internship fuels Velasco’s dedication to Hispanic educationClaudia Velasco spent her summer writing letters, but they weren’t to her friends or even her mother.
The letters from the Union University junior answered questions from the constituents of Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D- Calif.), which was one of Velasco’s duties as an intern with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute in Washington, D.C.
Velasco was one of 32 college students chosen ...
Union University will host a series of lectures beginning Sept. 22 on issues pertaining to the future of health care, specifically in the field of cognitive enhancement.
“The Future of Healthcare: Conscience, Justice, and Cognitive Enhancement” will feature two doctors from Mayo Clinic and a theology professor from Belmont Abbey College.
“Advances in medicine and technology are increas...
Union University President David S. Dockery has been appointed to a task force that will study the possibility of changing the name of the Southern Baptist Convention.
SBC President Bryant Wright, senior pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, Ga., announced the formation of the 19-member task force Sept. 19 at the SBC Executive Committee meeting in Nashville, Tenn.
Docker...
Ryken lauds King James Version as ‘greatest English Bible ever’The King James Version of the Bible is considered a great book because of how it was compiled and received, but also because its legacy continues today, said Leland Ryken at a Union University conference held Sept. 15-17.
Ryken, a professor of English at Wheaton College, spoke in two sessions at the “KJV400: Legacy and Impact” festival, which celebrated the 400th anniversary of the King Jame... George: Tyndale’s life ‘like a spy novel’
Union University will hold its annual Global Opportunities Week -- a time of focus on what God is doing in Jackson, in the United States and around the world – Sept. 19-23.
The week will feature special chapel services, an exhibition fair and other seminars addressing topics pertaining to mission work in various locations.
“Since 2005, Union has sent more missionaries to the field tha...
George: Tyndale’s life ‘like a spy novel’William Tyndale is still remembered as an influential leader in church history because he gave his life to one goal -- translating the Bible into English from its original languages -- Timothy George said at a Union University conference Sept. 15.
George, dean of Beeson Divinity School and executive editor for Christianity Today, spoke at the “KJV400: Legacy and Impact” conference, a three-d...
Union again a top 15 institution, according to U.S.News & World Report rankingsUnion University has maintained its standing among the top 15 regional universities in the South, according to the annual rankings of colleges and universities by U.S.News & World Report released Sept. 13.
Union was tied for the 15th spot in the “Best Regional Universities – South” category, holding the same position it held last year. The position is the highest ever for Union and marks the...
Maier to give Carls-Schwerdfeger History Lecture Oct. 11Author and historian Pauline Maier will be the featured speaker for the 15th annual Carls-Schwerdfeger History Lecture Series Oct. 11 at Union University.
Maier, the William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of American History at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, will address the topic, “Ratification of the U.S. Constitution: Why Should We Care?”
Maier is the author of several books, sc...
To better reflect the nature of the services it provides to students, Union’s career services office has changed its name to the Vocatio Center for Life Calling and Career.
“Our goal is to teach students holistically through a model that emphasizes vocation as ministry,” said Jacqueline Taylor, assistant dean of students and director of the Vocatio Center. “Our true hope is to instill in our... Vocatio Center for Life Calling and Career
Green Collection of rare Bibles to be open to public for two viewingsThe Green Collection, one of the world’s largest private collections of rare Bibles, biblical texts and artifacts, will be on display at Union University and open to the public Sept. 15 and Sept. 17.
The collection, owned by Steve Green, president of Hobby Lobby, is a compilation of more than 30,000 biblical antiquities, some of which will be part of the exhibit at Union. The display is part... Union to hold festival to celebrate KJV legacy and impact
Prayer life the primary indicator of spiritual health, Gaines saysA Christian’s prayer life is a barometer of his or her walk with Jesus Christ, Steve Gaines told Union University students Sept. 7.
“Doctrine is important, but you can have great doctrine,” said Gaines, senior pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova, Tenn. “You can be as straight as a gun barrel in doctrine and be as empty as a gun barrel on the inside.”
Gaines spoke in a chapel s...
Tickets, sponsorships remain for Union Scholarship Banquet with BlairTickets and sponsorship opportunities are still available for Union University’s 14th annual Scholarship Banquet Oct. 3, featuring former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
The banquet will be held at the Carl Perkins Civic Center in Jackson.
“Demand has been greater than past years,” said Jerry Tidwell, Union’s senior vice president for university relations. “We still have a few tabl...
Union enrollment increases for 14th straight yearEnrollment at Union University for the fall semester is a record-high 4,205 students – the 14th straight year for an enrollment increase at the university.
“We are deeply grateful to God for his ongoing blessings,” Union President David S. Dockery said. “Particularly do we offer thanksgiving for these marvelous students who have chosen to attend Union University from all across the country....
Mitchell to lecture on biomedical ethics at University of OklahomaC. Ben Mitchell, the Graves Professor of Moral Philosophy at Union University, will give the 25th annual A. Kurt Weiss Lectures in Biomedical Ethics at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Sept. 8-9.
Mitchell said he was “genuinely humbled to follow in the footsteps of the distinguished speakers of the past,” including Elton Trueblood, Edmund Pellegrino, Joni Eareckson Tada, Leo...
Phi Alpha Theta earns 9th straight Best Chapter AwardThe Delta-Psi chapter of Phi Alpha Theta at Union University has won the Best Chapter Award for the ninth straight year from the national Phi Alpha Theta organization.
Phi Alpha Theta is a history honor society. As part of the award, the Union library will receive $250 to purchase history books. That brings to $2,250 the total amount that the chapter has given to the library over the past ni...
Several new faculty members have joined Union University for the 2011-2012 academic year, which began Aug. 23. New faculty members include:
Dockery lauds ‘communion of saints’ as goal for life at Union UniversityConfessional commitments play an important role in creating a vibrant Christian community that can engage with the great thinkers of the Christian intellectual tradition, Union University President David S. Dockery said Aug. 26.
“To be part of this Christian community does not just take us back to 1823, to the founding of Union University but it connects us with the earliest followers of Jes...
Aldridge named TranSouth Sports Information Director of the YearSteven Aldridge, the sports information director at Union University, has been named the TranSouth Athletic Conference’s 2010-2011 Sports Information Director of the Year.
Aldridge received the award at the conference's annual meeting Aug. 2 at Freed-Hardeman University in Henderson, Tenn. The conference instituted the award in 2006 to recognize the efforts of sports information directors i...
Academically strong, geographically diverse freshman class arrivesEric Leisey of Lititz, Pa., may live a long way from Union University, but he was no stranger to the campus.
His sister Melissa attended Union and is now a graduate student at the university. His brother David is a junior. And on Aug. 19, Eric joined about 500 other freshmen who moved onto the Union campus to begin their collegiate experience. Scores of upperclassmen, faculty and staff were...
Union volunteers aid tornado-stricken Tuscaloosa in rebuilding effortKnee-high grass surrounds an empty playground at Holt Elementary School outside Tuscaloosa, Ala. Though the beginning of the school year was only a few days away, the deserted school showed no indications of pending activity.
But across town, in Northport, Ala., Lloyd Wood Middle School was a different story. Custodians were busy cleaning. Teachers were busy working on their classrooms. And ...
Green Collection of rare Bibles to be part of KJV festivalOne of the world’s largest private collections of rare Bibles, biblical texts and artifacts will be on display at Union University Sept. 15-17 as part of the “KJV400: Legacy and Impact” festival celebrating the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible.
The Green Collection, owned by Steve Green, president of Hobby Lobby, is a compilation of more than 30,000 biblical antiquities, some of whi... Union to hold festival to celebrate KJV legacy and impact
Non-duplicating headcount hits record 5,109 studentsUnion University’s non-duplicating headcount for the 2010-2011 academic year was a record-high 5,109 students.
Non-duplicating headcount is a figure used by educational institutions to show the total number of students enrolled for any classes during a given year. No student in any program is counted more than once, whether they enroll for one term or for all five of Union’s terms.
Num...
Princeton Review names Union as one of Southeast’s best collegesUnion University is one of the best colleges in the Southeast, according to The Princeton Review.
Union is one of 135 institutions The Princeton Review recommends in its “Best in the Southeast” section of its website feature, “2012 Best Colleges: Region by Region,” that posted Aug. 1, 2011, on PrincetonReview.com.
In the profile of Union on its site, The Princeton Review describes the ...
I had the memorable privilege about a decade ago of meeting John Stott following a Sunday service at All Souls Church in London, where he invested his life in pastoral ministry for almost 50 years. That experience, which included a warm conversation and photo opportunity to capture the moment, seemed to me to be an extension of a lengthy conversation I had been having with him since my own univers...
Union named to prestigious ‘Great Colleges to Work For’ honor rollUnion University is one of the top 42 colleges in the nation to work for, according to a new survey by The Chronicle of Higher Education.
The results, released today in The Chronicle’s fourth annual report on “The Academic Workplace,” are based on a survey of nearly 44,000 employees at 310 colleges and universities.
In all, only 111 of the 310 institutions achieved “Great College to Wo...
Union University will officially begin the process toward membership in the Gulf South Conference and NCAA Division II.
NCAA representatives notified Union President David S. Dockery in a telephone call July 11 that Union had been approved by the NCAA Division II membership committee for candidacy status.
The NCAA’s approval begins a three-year process of transition from NAIA to NCAA ...
Tony Blair to headline Union’s 14th annual Scholarship BanquetFormer British Prime Minister Tony Blair will be the keynote speaker for Union University’s 14th annual Scholarship Banquet Oct. 3 at the Carl Perkins Civic Center in Jackson, Tenn.
“In recent years Mr. Blair has become one of the most admired men in the world with his many efforts to promote good will through numerous means such as his faith foundation, his sports foundation, his charitable...
Plans Approved for New Library