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Oliver to deliver commencement address

 President Samuel W. "Dub" Oliver will address graduates Dec. 17. (Photo by Kristi Woody)
President Samuel W. "Dub" Oliver will address graduates Dec. 17. (Photo by Kristi Woody)

JACKSON, Tenn.Dec. 15, 2022 — President Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver will deliver the commencement address as part of ’s December graduation ceremonies Dec. 17 in the university’s G.M. Savage Memorial Chapel.

Oliver, in his remarks to ’s bicentennial class, will update and reprise Joseph H. Eaton’s address to the first graduating class of in Murfreesboro in the mid-1800s. Eaton served as professor and president of in Murfreesboro when it began college-level classes in 1847.

Founded in 1823 as Jackson Male Academy, is celebrating its bicentennial during the 2022-2023 academic year. The Jackson-based institution, which eventually became Southwestern Baptist University, changed its name to in 1907 in part to honor the legacy of Joseph Eaton and his son T.T. Eaton, who served as a trustee of Southwestern Baptist University.

The graduation ceremony for all undergraduate degrees (except for associate degrees, Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership degrees and Memphis College of Urban and Theological Studies degrees) will take place at 10 a.m. The ceremony for students receiving associate, BSOL, MCUTS and graduate degrees will begin at 1:30 p.m.

The commencement ceremonies will be streamed live at .


Media contact: Tim Ellsworth, news@uu.edu, 731-661-5215