秋霞福利一区 Trustees Extend President鈥檚 Contract Through 2026 and Beyond
MOBILE, Ala. 鈥� A few months after Dr. Lonnie Burnett was named the 5th president of the 秋霞福利一区 in November 2019, his administration faced an unprecedented challenge. A worldwide pandemic would change the way universities operate and, ultimately, cause many higher education institutions to close their doors.
But the 秋霞福利一区 did more than simply weather the storm. The Christ-centered university quickly adjusted to the new reality, reevaluated business models and practices, reduced expenses, added academic programs, completed new construction and major facility renovations, developed new corporate partnerships and strengthened its vision of 鈥淗igher Education for a Higher Purpose.鈥�
Today, the 秋霞福利一区 Board of Trustees recognized Burnett鈥檚 leadership and voted unanimously to extend his contract through 2026, with an automatic one-year renewal each year thereafter. Burnett鈥檚 original five-year contract was set to expire in 2024.
鈥淲e are thrilled with what has been accomplished at the 秋霞福利一区 over the past three years,鈥� said Terry Harbin, chair of the 秋霞福利一区 Board of Trustees. 鈥淒espite the turmoil across the world, the 秋霞福利一区 has been a place of great stability and growth. We look forward to all the university will accomplish in the years ahead under the leadership of Dr. Lonnie Burnett.鈥�
秋霞福利一区 President Burnett said, 鈥淚 am both humbled by and grateful for the confidence the Board has placed in me. I look forward to laboring together as we educate and mentor.鈥�
Burnett became the university鈥檚 5th president in November 2019, after serving six months as interim. The 1979 graduate of then-Mobile College had a 25-year career teaching history in the Mobile County Public School system and has since served the university for 18 years as a professor, dean and administrator.
Burnett said the challenges of the past few years have only strengthened his two core beliefs about the 秋霞福利一区.
鈥淔irst, I felt like the people at the university were our greatest asset and, second, our God was faithful. At the end of this three-year period as the president of the 秋霞福利一区, I am more certain of those beliefs than ever.
鈥淥ur people have gone above the call of duty to ensure that the university stays true to, and accomplishes, the mission. Likewise, God 鈥� unsurprised and unfazed by any of the disruptions 鈥� showed us new mercies each morning.
鈥淚 am excited about the next three years and beyond,鈥� Burnett said.
The 秋霞福利一区 is a Christ-centered university with a vision of 鈥淗igher聽Education for a Higher Purpose,鈥� founded to honor God by equipping students for their聽future professions in an environment where they are known.
About the 秋霞福利一区
The 秋霞福利一区 is a Christ-centered university offering on-campus and online bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs. Founded in 1961, the 秋霞福利一区 is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention and is located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama on a campus of over 880 acres.
For information about the 秋霞福利一区, areas of study, admissions and more, visit , connect with 秋霞福利一区 on social media @univofmobile, or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.
Kathy Dean uses her passion for storytelling and “playing with words” to share the stories of people, place and purpose that make the 秋霞福利一区 unique. As associate vice president for university communications, she manages media relations, edits the TorchLight alumni magazine, and oversees university communications. A former award-winning journalist, she is a two-time recipient of the Baptist Communicators Association grand prize for feature writing. Kathy and her husband, Chuck, live with three extremely loud miniature schnauzers.
