Issue: Summer 2014 | Posted: June 2, 2014

A Transition Timeline for Dub Oliver

2013

• JANUARY 15
  President David S. Dockery announces his intention to transition to the role of University Chancellor no later than July 2014.
• FEBRUARY 1
  Union trustees appoint a presidential search committee of nine people who represent faculty, staff, trustees, church leadership, alumni and community leadership.
• MARCH 29
  Trustee chairman Norman Hill calls on the Union community to commit to days of prayer and fasting to support the search. An online calendar at uu.edu allows for anonymous sign-up, but shows the numbers of people committed for each day of the month. Students are the first group to make commitments.
• APRIL
  Additional pages are created at uu.edu that included links to a survey for the committee to consider, a video about the search and a position statement for prospective candidates.
• JUNE 28
  Union’s presidential search committee reviews more than 1,600 presidential surveys from friends of Union. Within the surveys were about 130 presidential nominations.
• AUGUST 23
  In his final fall convocation address as president, David S. Dockery urges the Union community to move forward with confidence “because of the hope God has given to us” in the address, entitled “From Faith to Faith: Revisiting the Great Cloud of Witnesses.”
  
  
  
  
  
• SEPTEMBER 27
  Physics students honor the Dockery presidency with a launch of his bobblehead likeness into “near space”. The statue reached an estimated altitude of about 90,000 feet before parachuting to the ground at an unknown location.
• DECEMBER 2
  Chairman Norman Hill indicates the list of potential candidates for president has been narrowed from about 130 to 10 or less. He asks the Union community to pray for wisdom as the final selection is made.
• DECEMBER 5
  David and Lanese Dockery are honored for 18 years of service to the University during a banquet that was supposed to coincide with Dockery’s final trustee meeting the following day. The meeting was canceled due to inclement weather.

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2014

• FEBRUARY 10
  The presidential search committee recommends East Texas Baptist University President Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver as the 16th president of Union University. Oliver meets with the full Board of Trustees, who approve his appointment with a unanimous vote. Oliver’s wife Susie and daughter Callie are present for the announcement. The Olivers then meet with faculty, staff and students in Savage Chapel.
  
  
  
  
• FEBRUARY 21–22
  The Olivers return to campus for Homecoming activities.
• FEBRUARY 28
  David S. Dockery is introduced as the 15th president of Trinity International University in Deerfield, Ill. TIU consists of the Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Trinity College (a liberal arts college), Trinity Graduate School and Trinity Law School.
  
• MARCH 9–16
  The Olivers spend the ETBU spring break week on Union’s campus, conducting meetings with campus leaders and house-hunting. They also visit with students during the annual “Be Our Guest” event. Oliver spends time with Randy Davis and other leaders of the Tennessee Baptist Convention and visits the Hendersonville campus.
• MARCH 25–26
  Oliver is present for site team visit from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as Union completes the reaffirmation process. He also meets with faculty and staff.
• APRIL 13–16
  Oliver preaches at FBC Jackson on Palm Sunday and then speaks to the Union Auxiliary on April 14. The Olivers also visit the Germantown campus and the Olford Center.
• APRIL 24–25
  Oliver participates in his first trustee meeting as president-elect. The Olivers also close on their new home in Jackson.
• MAY 7–9
  The Olivers return to campus for more meetings and participate in the annual Awards Day service.