Jackson, Tenn. - After 21 years of service to Union University in Jackson, Tenn., Dr. James Alex Baggett has announced his retirement this year. Because of his long and meritous teaching and administrative career at Union University, the University's Alumni Association recently honored the Columbus native with the Distinguished Service Award.
Baggett graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1958 and a Masters of Education degree in 1960 from Tennessee Wesleyan College. He received his PhD from North Texas State University in 1972.
At Union, Baggett has served as Dean of the School of Humanities, Director of Institutional Self-Study, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, Director of Long-Range Planning, Assistant Vice President for Institutional Research. He is currently serving as the Dean of the College Arts and Sciences and professor of History and Political Science.
Professionally, Baggett is an active member of the Tennessee Humanities Council Society and the Jackson Good Morning Rotary Club. He has also served as a member of the Citizens Advisory Committee to the Texas Constitutional Commission, the Executive Committee of the West Tennessee Historical Society, and the Jackson Bicentennial of the Constitution Committee.
As an editor of many publications, Baggett has used his editing skills at Union and abroad. At Union, he has been the editor of the Union University Institutional Self Study, the Union University Long-Range Planning and the Union University Catalogue. He was also the associate editor of the West Tennessee Historical Society Papers, The Civil War and Reconstruction and Memories of Madison County.
