Union University President Honored for 10 Years of Leadership
Union University trustees honored its president for 10 years of leadership during a banquet last week.
David Dockery, who is one of 23 percent of current college presidents who have served for 10 years at one school, was presented last Thursday with a 1620 edition of Augustine’s “City of God,” the second English edition ever to be printed.
Union Trustee John Drinnon, who was chairman of the Union University’s presidential search committee 10 years ago and still serves on Union’s board, praised Dockery for his “visionary” leadership and expressed appreciation to him on behalf of the board of trustees.
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“Union University is no longer only a regional school,” Drinnon told those at the banquet. “It is now known nationally.”
According to Union, Dockery’s impact on the four-year, liberal arts, Southern Baptist university has been “monumental.” This semester enrollment reached a record-high of 2,981. The school’s budget has increased from $20.4 million to $45.1 million during that time, and the number of donors has increased from 2,249 to 4,008.
In addition, the annual impact Union has on the Madison County economy was $39 million in 1995. This year, according to results of a recent study, Union’s economic impact was $108 million.
But Dockery readily credited others for his successes at Union and for the length of his tenure – first his family, who he said have has become an integral part of Union; then Union’s board of trustees, the Union faculty and staff and other loyal people who come to work each day hoping to make a difference in at the university; and lastly, local churches and the community, and the large number of people who pray for the university on a regular basis.
“Clearly it has been a time in God’s good providence when he has chosen to smile on Union University, and I am indeed grateful for the privilege we have been given to serve in this place,” Dockery said.
David S. Dockery was elected as the 15th president of Union University on Dec. 8, 1995. During his tenure the university has seen a strong increase in commitment to excellence in teaching and scholarship. Union has been listed among the top tier institutions in the South each of the past nine years by U.S. News and World Report. Union has also been recognized during this time by Peterson’s Competitive College Guide, the Time/Princeton Review, and Templeton’s Colleges that Encourage Character Development.
In 2002 Dockery was named a Distinguished Alumnus of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He serves on the board of directors of several civic groups and local foundations. Dockery also serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, the Board of Reference of Prison Fellowship, the Executive Committee of the Consortium for Global Education, and the board of TICUA. He serves on the board of Christianity Today where he also serves as a consulting editor.
