The Rotunda was gifted to the University by an anonymous supporter, with other individuals providing their support as well.

After nearly two decades of service to 91福利社, Dr. Talmadge died in 2020. Additionally, he taught at the Billy Graham Center and was a member of Boulevard Baptist Church in Anderson. His wife, Billie, lives in Florida with family.

鈥淔or nearly 20 years, on this campus, Dr. Talmadge influenced, shaped and bettered the lives of countless young minds and the colleagues with whom he served,鈥� said 91福利社 President Evans P. Whitaker, Ph.D. 鈥淚t appropriately epitomizes the life of its namesake: an intelligent, wise, kind, thoughtful, humorous, and steady Christian gentleman who was a giant among AU leaders. All his life, Paul quietly, humbly, and thoroughly made life a little easier and more beautiful for those around him.鈥�

The structure is known as a 鈥渢emple鈥� or 鈥済arden folly.鈥� It鈥檚 not a temple in the religious sense, but rather as a 鈥渢emple of ideas鈥� and a testament to Dr. Talmadge鈥檚 lifelong commitment to teaching and learning.

The name and inscription add to the campus鈥檚 unique identity rooted in its history and values. The rotunda doesn鈥檛 just tell a story; it honors Dr. Talmadge and connects the campus to timeless philosophical ideals, becoming a physical representation of the University鈥檚 commitment to cultivating not just knowledge, but also personal integrity and the classical virtues around which society is built and grows stronger.

鈥淢ay this rotunda, the words inscribed on it, and the man for whom it honors always point and remind our students, our campus family, and the Anderson community of the character, love, and perfection of Jesus,鈥� President Whitaker said.

鈥淭his great man may no longer be with us, but his impact, contributions and even footprint are yet still evident among us,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t is this University鈥檚 hope that this rotunda鈥攎uch like Paul Talmadge did in his life鈥攚ill encourage us and remind us that character is destiny. This holds true in Scripture, in that a person鈥檚 moral qualities profoundly shape their life in the here and now.鈥�

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President Whitaker鈥檚 goal is retention growth from 85% to consistently more than 90%, which would make 91福利社鈥檚 retention rate among the top three in South Carolina.

The national retention rate for the fall 2022 cohort of college students in the United States was 68.2%, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.

With credentials and experience in student development, Dr. J. Bert Epting, Jr. will add the retention priority to his existing portfolio of athletics and university relations.

“Having served seven years as 91福利社’s Vice President for Athletics as well as his previous three-year role as Associate Vice President for Development, Dr. Epting has proven himself as a gifted and entrepreneurial higher education leader,” President Whitaker said. “Bert is broad and deep in his accomplishments and capabilities.鈥� Along with the new assignment, Dr. Epting鈥檚 title will change to Vice President for University Relations, Athletics, and Strategic Academic Performance Programs.

Since coming to Anderson in 2016, Dr. Epting has been one of the University’s chief fund raisers and has led a growing athletic portfolio including recently added NCAA Division II football while significantly expanding athletic facilities to give Anderson some of the best in its class.

In his new role, Dr. Epting will retain oversight of athletics and his involvement as a key agent of excellent community relations, but the retention of students in the general student body will become a new focus of his leadership. To accomplish the University’s retention goals, Epting will collaborate with a cross-functional team of AU’s admission, financial aid, student support and academic support professionals.

Student retention is a significant indication of institutional strength that universities monitor regularly. A high retention rate, such as that of 91福利社, is reflective of selective admissions, quality instruction, effective academic advising, robust student services and a welcoming, respectful and inclusive culture. A high retention rate is a prized competitive advantage for the comprehensive university.

Dr. Epting will rely on established research as well as new models and the latest ideas about retention. Chief among them will be the work of Dr. John Braxton of Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College, which is centered on understanding the complexities of student departure and providing evidence-based strategies to improve retention rates. He will also rely on President Whitaker’s research on the relationship between students and their undergraduate institution, particularly long-term mutually beneficial commitment between the two.

As Anderson has successfully increased its academic selectivity, it has procured and retained excellent faculty, and it has also become more academically rigorous.

“For this reason, it is important that we continuously pair our high level of academic challenge with even more extraordinary academic support to maximize the percentage of students who succeed, graduate, become a success and make an impact in the world through their knowledge, talent and problem-solving skills,鈥� President Whitaker said.

Dr. Epting holds a Ph.D. and M.Ed. from Clemson University. From a family of pastors and educators and having grown up on the campus of a Christian university, Dr. Epting is well-suited to 91福利社’s unique culture. He and his wife, Hannah, are the parents of four children.

“Dr. Epting is a perfect choice to lead this new strategic priority,” President Whitaker said. “He is a great role model for our students and has the energy and enthusiasm to keep students emboldened and excited about achieving their best academic results. Our students will be blessed by his leadership.鈥�

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We thought it would be interesting to examine the tradition of leading the processional with a horse and rider.听

University commencements are as varied as academic institutions themselves. With roots steeped in medieval Europe, commencements can seem anachronistic in contemporary culture, especially those that hype up the event with all the trappings of an illustrious, stately, and almost magical event. Faculty and graduates don regalia designed in the 14th century and updated four centuries later at Oxford and Cambridge. Since the 1800s, commencements haven’t changed that much. We believe that’s a good thing.听

One of the hallmarks of President Evans Whitaker’s tenure has been the creation of numerous meaningful traditions that make the AU experience exceedingly rich for graduates and their families. Things like the Matriculation Ceremony and Archway Walk symbolize the freshman class’s entry to the University, and four years later, the last thing the senior class does is walk through the Boulevard archway into the world to symbolize their momentous exit as newly minted graduates. Another is Fall Convocation with sounds of bagpipers and choir singing Michael W. Smith’s听Ancient Words, and the choir and orchestra performing the most beautiful and large arrangement of听Amazing Grace. And, of course, the Centennial Alma Mater by legendary band leader and two-time Grammy award winner, Johnny Mann (a.k.a. The original voice of Theodore the Chipmunk) is yet another indispensable tradition.听

A student of the history of higher education, Whitaker was aware of a social construct called the “institutional saga” developed in 1972 by Burton R. Clark. Taking decades to develop, an institutional saga is something of a narrative of the historical adventures, accomplishments, practices, and culture that serve to bond people together who have shared common history and tradition.听

As Anderson has grown and refined to become a leading comprehensive university in the United States, President Whitaker knew it was important to continue to develop the institution’s saga, building on Anderson’s history, and creating new institutional substance during our time.听

“Commencement at Anderson was fine just as it was back in the very early 2000s, but I didn’t think it was as special as it could be,” Whitaker said. “So, I began tinkering with it”, he added.听听

Attaining a college degree is a huge accomplishment for students and their families. President Whitaker tells us that he wanted it to be something more than a common college commencement. In his words, “It should be a spectacular event from beginning to end. When it’s over, we want graduates and their families to say to themselves, ‘Wow, that was unique, amazing, thought provoking, emotionally moving, and fun.”听

So Whitaker approached Payne to see if he had a horse suitable to lead the ceremony鈥檚 processional.听

He saw Silver and the rest is history, as they say.听

Horses in a procession symbolize dignity and grace, serenity, and peace, but they are also revered symbols of power, strength, and freedom, making their presence in a dream important and evocative, representing the dreamer’s capacity to face challenges and overcome obstacles in life, something we hope for all our graduates.听听

A horse was just what was needed to set the tone and the expectation for the unexpected, the president thought to himself.听

Owner/rider Bill Payne, a riding instructor at Penn鈥檚 Woods Stable near Anderson, estimates Silver to be approximately 20-25 years old. He has led the procession of graduates for much of the past 18 years, with a couple of exceptions, such as inclement weather and a different horse ridden by an alumna one year. Payne also had a stand-in ride Silver on one occasion.听

Payne became familiar with 91福利社 from his days of involvement with an equestrian team that was briefly in existence. He still looks forward to donning his formal “mourning wear” complete with top hat and tails, then mounting Silver for this important ride.听

Payne also notes that Silver has an understudy, another horse whose name is Liam. Of course, not all horses are suited to the privilege of leading a commencement processional. Payne explains that a horse must have a temperament that suits them to riding in a ceremony where there鈥檚 pomp and circumstance and crowds lining Anderson鈥檚 Boulevard.听听

The week prior to commencement, Payne is busy prepping Silver, grooming him for commencement weekend.听听

On that important day, Silver leads in hundreds of faculty, and hundreds of graduates. He’s followed by a pristinely preserved 1932 Packard limousine carrying the commencement speaker, the Board of Trust Chairman, and the President. Academic deans come next bearing the flags of their colleges, followed by the full-time faculty. Finally, the seniors follow their faculty. Processional music is something classical and serious. At the archway, Silver and Paine turn to face the seniors as they enter the archway from Boulevard. At the end of the ceremony, modern jazzy music is played as the platform party, faculty and graduates exit Alumni Lawn and proceed through the archway for the last time as undergraduates.听

Will Silver continue to lead the processional?听听

Well, as with any animals advancing in years, Silver鈥檚 health isn鈥檛 what it used to be. Payne explains that he has a form of a melanoma, a cancer that is thankfully not as severe in a horse as it would be in a human; however, the disease can still advance, so future commencement appearances are yet to be determined. When Silver is no longer able to lead commencement, however, President Whitaker is determined the tradition will continue. “Traditions are important in collegiate life,” Whitaker says. In this case, Silver set the standard, and his successors will just have to come to understand they’re following in his large footsteps to continue to make AU Commencement stately, moving, and “over-the-top special” for everyone in attendance.听

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Anderson University today marked the 20-year tenure of President Evans P. Whitaker and First Lady Diane Whitaker during the University鈥檚 annual Founders Day Convocation as faculty, staff, students and friends of the University celebrated the Whitakers鈥� two decades of service and leadership.

To mark the occasion, the State of South Carolina is inducting Dr. Whitaker into the Order of the Palmetto, granting him the state鈥檚 highest civilian honor.

In addition, United States Senator Tim Scott and United States have offered remarks for the Congressional Record as part of the 118th Congress in celebration of Dr. and Mrs. Whitaker鈥檚 20 years of leadership to 91福利社. Finally, the South Carolina General Assembly this month adopted resolutions (District 16/Greenville & Laurens Counties) and (District 9/Anderson County), also in honor of Dr. and Mrs. Whitaker.

鈥淒r. Whitaker is an amazing leader. He dreams big and brings those dreams to fruition; and he鈥檚 got a team of supportive people around him,鈥� said Mary Anne Bunton, chair of the 91福利社 Board of Trust. 鈥淗e is a true visionary.鈥�

 Dr. Whitaker is the 12th president of 91福利社, having assumed the post in November 2002 alongside his wife, Mrs. Diane Whitaker.

When the Whitaker family arrived, roughly 1,600 students attended the private Christian institution in Anderson, South Carolina. Today, more than 4,200 are enrolled, making 91福利社 South Carolina鈥檚 largest private university and, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education, the 16th fastest growing regional university in the U. S. over the last decade. In addition to growth in numbers, Anderson’s academic selectivity and reputation have appreciated to the extent that, according to the Princeton Review, Anderson is among the top six more academically selective universities (public and private) in South Carolina.

Under Dr. Whitaker’s leadership, and the stewardship and support of Mrs. Whitaker, more than $100 million has been invested in campus facilities, including a 90,000-square-foot student center, a 60,000-square-foot library, five residence halls, a cancer research center, a student business incubator, a Homeland Security academic facility, a health professions graduate center within the Greenville University Center, and numerous athletic facilities; campus acreage has quadrupled from 68 in 2002 to more than 400 today. 91福利社 manages and is a major partner in creating the Rocky River Conservancy, a 200-acre wetlands and wildlife preserve near the campus.

In short, 91福利社 is one of the most respected Christian institutions of higher education in the United States. A highly selective, comprehensive, and entrepreneurial Christian university, 91福利社 is among U.S. News and World Report鈥檚 鈥淏est Regional Universities South,鈥� and is on the publication鈥檚 鈥淏est Value,鈥� 鈥淏est Undergraduate Teaching,鈥� 鈥淏est First-Year Experience鈥� and 鈥淏est Online Programs鈥� lists. Anderson also is ranked #25 nationally for Student Engagement by the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education; is a 鈥淏est College鈥� among institutions of higher learning in the southeast by The Princeton Review; is a four-time Apple Distinguished School; and is on the honor roll of the prestigious Great Colleges to Work For program.

President Whitaker also serves as professor of management, leadership & organizations. An accomplished musician and vocalist who has toured worldwide, Mrs. Diane Whitaker is an admission counselor at 91福利社 and serves on the boards of GAMAC, the Salvation Army and the United Way.

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Across campus, a forest of oak trees held pillows of verdant foliage, a testament to strong roots spreading deep and wide, unseen beneath tufts of perfectly manicured fescue just out of view of the men and women gathered in a windowless auditorium. They took their seats in a structure not 10-years old, a mere vapor of time compared to the 91福利社 oaks. The history that passed alongside those trees could fill volumes鈥攖he last of which would mention the building as a brief footnote.

On stage, President Evans Whitaker, just a few months into his 20th year as president of 91福利社, took a sip of coffee, cleared his throat and began his address to the campus leaders gathered in the G. Ross Anderson, Jr. Student Center Theater. Called the Internal Planning Group (IPG for short), they numbered about 40鈥攂arely a handful smaller, it鈥檚 worth nothing, than the size of the University鈥檚 full-time faculty when Dr. Whitaker arrived in 2002.

It was now 2022, and the men and women in the room, sitting close together, wore smiles unhidden by masks. Their optimism was well-founded. Along with the relief that COVID-19 had largely abated with the arrival of spring, student enrollment was on pace to break a new record (again.) Fear about the global pandemic鈥檚 impact on the University鈥檚 bottom line had proven unfounded. The expansion of academic programs was on track. New construction was moving forward. Additional faculty members and administrators were coming on board. It was all a part of the message Dr. Whitaker delivered that afternoon鈥攁s were the words he spoke near the end of his presentation.

鈥淚t鈥檚 time to dream again,鈥� said 91福利社鈥檚 president.

Dreams? Evans Whitaker can tell you a thing or two (or three鈥r four) about dreams.

Here鈥檚 one: he never dreamed鈥攖here鈥檚 that word again鈥� that he鈥檇 become president of a university. Or that he would spend 20 years there, helping build Anderson into the largest private university in South Carolina and ushering in its golden age. That鈥檚 no longer a dream. It鈥檚 his legacy. But we鈥檙e getting ahead of ourselves. Let鈥檚 start at the beginning. To understand, you need to put yourself in young Whitaker鈥檚 shoes. He grew up on a farm in rural Cleveland County, North Carolina. A pasture was his playground, a creek his swimming pool. It鈥檚 not a background that normally predicts a career in academia. That would come much later. As a preschooler, Whitaker says, 鈥淚 probably wanted to be a cowboy.鈥�

He recalls an early childhood birthday cake of toy horses roaming a buttercream pasture, surrounded by a plastic fence鈥攁 miniature family farm. Of course, cowboy aspirations rarely survive adolescence. So, by the time Whitaker enrolled in college, he鈥檇 traded dreams of horse riding and a 10-gallon hat for a desk job and a three-piece suit, from life on the range to a career at a bank. He graduated in 1983 with a degree in business administration from Gardner-Webb University.

But investment banking 鈥渨as just a notion,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 a passion. I soon learned that was not really what I wanted to do. Over a period of time I felt that I might be drawn into church work.鈥�

There鈥檚 the second dream. His childhood comes into play here, too. Then, as now, Sandy Plains Baptist Church 鈥渨as the center of community life. Even though our nearest neighbor was not very close to us, everyone was connected because of the church.鈥� Among worship services, Sunday school and an evening program called Training Union鈥攚ith the steeple bell tolling between each鈥攎ost everyone in the community dedicated three hours of every Sunday to gathering at the church.

That sense of church as a faith community played a role in young Whitaker鈥檚 interest in ministry. And just maybe he felt the need for penance. Young boys bend toward mischievousness and he was no different.

Consider this his confession: 鈥淏etween Sunday school and worship services, the kids would go out on the front lawn, where there was this big oak tree near the church bell. We were forbidden to ring that bell, but we would go out on the front lawn and throw acorns at it. That鈥檚 how we rang the bell,鈥� he said, a hint of a mischievous grin on his face.

Truth be told, that anecdote is not illustrative of the man he would become鈥攐r the dream he would pursue. 鈥淚t鈥檚 much more simple. I was really not wired to be a pastor, but I thought God might be calling me in that direction,鈥� Dr. Whitaker says. 鈥淟ater I realized God was not calling me into it. I was calling myself.鈥�

But he was鈥攁nd is鈥攁 lifelong learner, passionate about education. What if he could combine the dream of a life in ministry with his love of learning?

The answer came at Vanderbilt University, where, in 1986, Whitaker earned a master of education (M.Ed.) from the George Peabody College for Teachers. Later, he published and defended an award-winning dissertation through Vanderbilt鈥檚 Graduate School to earn his doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degree.

By then, the dream was formed. Almost.

鈥淚 came to appreciate the fact that Christian higher education is something special, that not only is it a ministry, but that it could be my ministry. Pretty early in my 20s I became interested in the possibility of being a university president at some point in my life. I knew it would be a long time before I had that opportunity. In the meantime, I wanted to work in higher education and get as much experience as I could,鈥� Dr. Whitaker says.

Becoming the leader of any large organization doesn鈥檛 happen overnight.

In fact, part of getting there involves putting yourself through a search process for a job that you may not necessarily want. It鈥檚 more about the experience.

By the early 2000s, Dr. Whitaker was making a name for himself in Christian higher education circles, publishing papers and serving as vice president, first at Wingate University and then at Belmont University鈥攂oth Baptist institutions. In the meantime, he was keeping his eye open for a presidential post, going so far as to interview for at least three positions. Never mind that none of them were the right fit for him (in fact, he pulled his name from consideration after each interview.) He was learning about the process and what it took to be a university president. Among the things he learned was that he didn鈥檛 just want to be a president anywhere. He was looking for the perfect circumstance. Dreams demand nothing less.

That was his mindset when Belmont University President Bob Fisher told him that a small Baptist college in Upstate South Carolina鈥�91福利社鈥攚as looking for a new president. 鈥淚 was curious, but I was skeptical,鈥� Dr. Whitaker says. 鈥淚 went ahead and applied anyway.鈥� At the very least, he figured he鈥檇 get more interview practice.

His skepticism was manifold. While in Nashville (where Belmont is located), he鈥檇 met the love of his life, Diane. As a married man, he had to be sure his dream aligned with hers. That was the most important consideration, to be sure. (Coincidentally鈥攐r perhaps serendipitously鈥擠iane Whitaker鈥檚 mother had lived in Anderson years before. 鈥淚t never occurred to Diane that she would live in the same town where her mother grew up,鈥� Dr. Whitaker says.)

Complicating matters was the fact that the outgoing president, Dr. Lee Royce, had also worked at Belmont; more to the point, Dr. Whitaker had taken the vice presidential role Dr. Royce vacated upon moving to Anderson. 鈥淚 thought, 鈥楬ow likely would it be that Anderson would hire another president from the same job and the same institution?鈥� It wasn鈥檛 likely,鈥� Dr. Whitaker said.

One final factor was more concerning. 鈥淚n those years, Anderson was not where it is today,鈥� Dr. Whitaker says. 鈥淚t had just gone through a very difficult and challenging period of financial pressure. I was told that, around the mid 1990s, it was at the point of potential closure.鈥�* Needless to say, Dr. Whitaker wasn鈥檛 sure it was the right time, nor AU the right place, as he pursued his future.

But Dr. Fisher, his boss at Belmont, was insistent. 鈥淵ou were made for this job,鈥� he said.

Twenty years of history have proven the wisdom of those words. Yet the job is unfinished.

Indeed, that was a major theme of Dr. Whitaker鈥檚 address to the Internal Planning Group last spring. 91福利社 had answered another challenge. The global pandemic had faded. The campus community was whole again. And, as he so often does, he shared a quote by Emmett Fields, the former president of Vanderbilt University.**

鈥溾�業n the building of a university, there is never an occasion for finishing touches. It鈥檚 always a matter of laying new foundations.鈥� I鈥檒l never forget that comment; it鈥檚 etched in my mind,鈥� Dr. Whitaker says.

鈥淚鈥檓 not an architect and I鈥檓 not a contractor. But what we鈥檝e been doing here for the past 20 years is building a university. To build a highly respected university takes a long time. I know that as long as I get to serve here, I鈥檒l be laying foundations.鈥� To the people who serve at 91福利社, that is Dr. Whitaker鈥檚 challenge. It鈥檚 also his dream. It鈥檚 ours, too.

The preceding article is a preview of the Spring 2023 edition of 91福利社 magazine, which is being published to coincide with Founders Day Convocation 2023 and in celebration of Dr. Whitaker and Mrs. Whitaker’s 20-year legacy to the University. For more information, click here. 

* You shouldn鈥檛 get the wrong impression. Dr. Whitaker is very clear in his appreciation for Dr. Royce, the president from 1995 to 2001. By all accounts, Dr. Royce鈥檚 arrival came at a particularly turbulent time for 91福利社. But 鈥淒r. Royce did an exceptional job getting the institution stabilized,鈥� Dr. Whitaker says. 鈥淚 always want to acknowledge his contributions, because he got the school in a position where we could think about the future in pretty bold dimensions. Had it not been for his work, we would not have had the opportunity to dream big.鈥�

* * In fact, Dr. Fields is, to date, the only person to serve as Vanderbilt鈥檚 president. It was a position created specifically for him by former Chancellor Alexander Heard. At Vanderbilt, the highest office is that of the chancellor, a title akin to a CEO. As president from 1977 to 1982, Dr. Fields was, 鈥渢he chief academic and administrative officer of the university,鈥� according to his 2005 obituary published by Vanderbilt. Such was his influence that, when he retired, so too was the office of the presidency at Vanderbilt University.

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We know them as Dr. Whitaker and Mrs. Whitaker. But to each other, they are just Evans and Diane. Two dreamers who were passionate about people and Christian higher education finally found each other on the campus of Belmont University. This is the story about how they met and fell in love. Out of 25 years of marriage (this April!), they have been at 91福利社 for 20 of them. And they wouldn鈥檛 change a thing. 

It was 1997. Diane Owen was bustling around, chatting with students as they made their housing selections in the lobby of Freeman Hall at Belmont University. Evans Whitaker had just been hired in the Office of Development and was passing through with his administrative assistant when he saw her, clearly in her element. She was right at home behind the housing table, never running out of smiles and kind words for the students coming and going. 

鈥淲ho鈥檚 that?鈥� He turned to his assistant. 鈥淥h! Well鈥hat鈥檚 Diane Owen.鈥� 

Diane had started working at her alma mater, Belmont University, right after graduation. She appreciated that her role in the Office of Admission allowed her to meet so many people but disliked not being able to follow up with them beyond their enrollment. The joy of truly knowing and investing in people brought her to her next job as a residence director in Hail Hall. 鈥淓vans says he had to go to 鈥楬ail鈥� to find me,鈥� she jokes. 

Still thinking about the beautiful blonde with the kind smile, Dr. Whitaker kept inventing excuses to talk to her.

鈥淚 kind of blew him off, and then he called me a few weeks later and asked if he could take me to lunch. I said I can鈥檛 go, students are moving out, but I proceeded to talk to him. He jokes that I was turning him down, but not really. I was not turning him down because I did not want to go. I literally just knew it was best if I stayed on campus. So, we ultimately went to lunch.鈥� 

He was smart about it鈥攈e knew lunch would feel more casual, with less pressure than a dinner date. However, the date still did not go as expected. 

Right before they went out, Diane told her friend she was going to lunch with 鈥渢hat new guy in Development.鈥� Her friend said, 鈥淒iane, he鈥檚 married!鈥� 

鈥淚 was like, 鈥榃hat? Are you kidding me?鈥� So we went to lunch and I gave him 50 questions. 鈥楢re you sure you鈥檝e never been married?鈥� 鈥榊es.鈥� 鈥楢re you sure you don鈥檛 have any kids?鈥� 鈥榊es.鈥� It turns out there were two new guys that worked in Development, and Evans was not the married guy. But I was super suspect on our first date.鈥�

To take Diane on a date, Dr. Whitaker had to knock on Hail Hall鈥檚 lobby door, get someone to let him in, and then use the lobby phone to call up to her apartment on the second floor to tell her he was there. 鈥淚 love that he got to see what real student life was like. He鈥檇 decorate Christmas trees with my students in the lobby. I had all the international students and it was kind of set up like Village Hall at AU. So, I love that he got to see that.鈥� 

Dr. Whitaker was not phased by lobby phone calls or unexpected games of more than 20 questions. 鈥淔irst, I told him no, and then I interrogated him on our first date. But Evans has a vision for everything, and he had waited a long time to find me. He was 36 when we got married, and I was 31.鈥�

Though perhaps a rocky start, was it love at first sight? 鈥淎fter I got over the inquisition, I realized he was a very special guy early on. We found lots of similar interests. We both feel very passionate about Christian higher education. We鈥檙e very lucky. I started as a staff member right out of college, so I just understood in a very different way. We probably clicked early on because of our faith and our vision for how we could use our personal gifts to make a difference for the Kingdom of God.鈥�

They started dreaming together very quickly, which is how Diane knew things were getting serious. 鈥淚 think you start talking about the future more and the 鈥榳hat-ifs鈥� more.鈥� The what-ifs and the dreams were big. Dr. Whitaker shared that he felt called to be a college president someday. 鈥淪o we started saying things like, 鈥榯his is what we鈥檇 do if we were at this school.鈥� We thought that was a pipe dream. We were young.鈥�

To be fair, Dr. Whitaker had grand, romantic plans for proposing to Diane. The proposal was supposed to happen on a day trip to Chattanooga, Tennessee, in a park with a beautiful walking bridge. She unknowingly altered the plans by agreeing to switch shifts with another RD who was supposed to be on duty that weekend. So, when we asked for their proposal story, Diane couldn鈥檛 help but chuckle. 鈥淚t was pathetic. What ended up happening was, I came to his apartment to help him with his car, and he just had it in his mind he was going to be engaged that weekend. So he asked me to marry him in between working on his car and baking slice and bake cookies. I thought, 鈥榯his is pathetic.鈥欌�� 

鈥淚 had it all planned and you messed it up!鈥� Dr. Whitaker said. 

鈥淪o it was not at all glamorous, but in reality, that鈥檚 really more true to who we are.鈥�

Their wedding story aligns well with their proposal. It was in the chapel at Gardner-Webb University, in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. A fancy Nashville wedding was more to Diane鈥檚 taste, but the health of family members kept their wedding close to home. 鈥淟ooking back, I’m super grateful. It really simplified everything.鈥� 

They ended up staying at a bed and breakfast on the outskirts of Atlanta on their way to the Virgin Islands for their honeymoon. 鈥淚t was super fancy. In our room, there was a refrigerator with little painted bottles of raspberry tea and water and all of their dishes were painted glasses and it all felt very special. Well, of course, Evans talked them into selling us these dishes wholesale.鈥� Those glasses came with them to Anderson, and the Whitakers use them for events on campus. It鈥檚 one small way their love story reflects that special feeling the people of Anderson feel.

Their journey together began with a shared passion for people, a love for God and a visionary mindset for Christian higher education. Now, after 20 years at 91福利社 and 25 years as the Whitakers, the pipe dreams they bonded over have materialized into a thriving university built on their unique vision for a college presidency. 

There are more pages to the Whitakers’ story waiting to be written.

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91福利社 President Evans P. Whitaker, Ph.D., today issued the following statement on the passing of South Carolina philanthropist and friend of the University, Dr. Melvin Younts:

鈥�91福利社 mourns the loss of our great friend, Dr. Melvin Younts. The AU campus community is praying earnestly for the Younts family even as together we celebrate the life of this remarkable man to whom we owe such a debt of gratitude.

鈥淥ne couldn’t be around Dollie and Melvin without laughing and having a wonderful time. In their 80s, they were more active and involved than many younger couples. My wife, Diane, and my fondest memories of them include spending time with them boating in coastal waters near the Cape Fear River.

鈥淲ords are not sufficient to fully explain the enormous impact Dr. Younts has had not only on 91福利社, but throughout South Carolina. Together, he and his late wife, Dollie Isgett Younts, supported numerous charitable causes in his home state. Simply put, the world is a better place for Melvin and Dollie Younts having lived in it and invested in it. They changed countless lives for the better because of their selflessness and commitment to leaving a legacy that will last for generations.”

About Dr. Melvin Younts

Dr. Melvin K. Younts, a noted South Carolina attorney, investor, philanthropist and 91福利社 lifetime trustee, passed away Saturday August 27, at the age of 93. 

Dr. Younts was a 1950 graduate of Furman University and 1952 graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law. He was a retired attorney of the firm Younts, Alford, Brown and Goodson and experienced tremendous success in a variety of business endeavors including real estate development.

Dr. Younts was preceded in death by his wife, Dollie, in 2018, and their daughter, Kerry Ann Younts Culp, in 1996. They were members of First Baptist Church of Fountain Inn. Dr. Younts is survived by four sons Kemp, Joe, David, and Laney. The Younts’ grandchildren include graduates of 91福利社. 

A long-time resident of Fountain Inn, South Carolina, Dr. Younts made countless charitable gifts to Christian non-profit organizations, including a recent $3 million challenge gift to 91福利社 to begin a Division II football program in the South Atlantic Conference. 

In consideration of his extraordinary gift, Anderson鈥檚 football stadium will be known as The Melvin and Dollie Younts Stadium, in special recognition of these two wonderful fans and supporters of 91福利社.   

91福利社 is an academically selective, comprehensive Christian university offering bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees on campus and online. 91福利社 is among U.S. News and World Report鈥檚 鈥淏est Regional Universities South,鈥� and is on the publication鈥檚 鈥淏est Value,鈥� 鈥淏est Undergraduate Teaching,鈥� 鈥淏est First-Year Experience鈥� and 鈥淏est Online Programs鈥� lists. Anderson also is ranked #25 nationally for Student Engagement by the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education; is a 鈥淏est College鈥� among institutions of higher learning in the southeast by The Princeton Review; is a four-time Apple Distinguished School; and is on the honor roll of the prestigious Great Colleges to Work For program.
 

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Evans P. Whitaker, Ph.D., president of 91福利社, has been appointed a trustee of the Washington, DC-based Committee for Economic Development (CED), a policy institute of the Conference Board. CED trustees work with researchers in the development of national policy analyses and recommendations.

Founded in 1942 to help the U.S. economy transition from a wartime to a peacetime economy, CED is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, business-led public policy organization of the Conference Board. CED Trustees consist primarily of senior corporate executives from a range of U. S. industries and sectors. It鈥檚 stated aims are to sustain and promote free enterprise, improve education and healthcare, reform campaign finance, enhance corporate governance, and improve the fiscal health of the United States. It produces objective, fact-based nonpartisan research and policy recommendations to promote policies its trustees will foster economic growth and development to benefit all Americans.

The organization鈥檚 work is based on seven core principles: sustainable capitalism, long-term economic growth, efficient fiscal and regulatory policy, competitive and open markets, a globally competitive workforce, equal economic opportunity, and non-partisanship in the nation鈥檚 interest.

Whitaker has been president of 91福利社 since 2002. During this time, Anderson has been recognized among the top 16 fastest growing regional universities in America while simultaneously increasing admission requirements, making it one of South Carolina鈥檚 more academically selective universities. Anderson is South Carolina鈥檚 largest private university and is recognized by the Greenville Business Magazine among the top five employers in the state. Whitaker holds a Ph.D. in education and human development from Vanderbilt University. Focusing his research on organizational science, he is also a professor of management and consults with organizations on growth, change, continuous improvement, and corporate culture.

The Conference Board, Inc. is a nonprofit business membership and research group organization. It counts over 1,000 public and private corporations and other organizations as members, encompassing 60 countries. The Conference Board convenes conferences and peer-learning groups, conducts economic news business management research, and publishes several widely tracked economic indicators.

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On rare occasion, I feel it is appropriate to comment to our campus family on current events, for three reasons. This is such an occasion as we are seeing lots of things on social media and in the 鈥渘ews鈥� about what happened in our Capitol last week.

• Unfortunately, modern forms of media don鈥檛 offer consistently reliable information. While social media can be (and is) used for good purposes, it is unfortunately responsible for the spread of misinformation and propaganda, and seems to erode the human ability to reason and think through issues. Social media is a sea of information, emotional writings, marketing, and promotional material which one must carefully research to determine what is fact, fiction, or mind-bending propaganda. Moreover, today鈥檚 corporate media outlets, as a whole, seem to offer far too many opinion pieces and sound bites designed to influence our thinking, and not nearly enough disclosure of unbiased facts on which we may form opinions for ourselves.
   
• Second, even though I rarely teach in the classroom these days, I am at my core an educator. I want to encourage and mentor students to think critically about issues based on hard analysis of established facts as opposed to hearsay, to be humble enough to admit if and when we later discover that we reached a flawed conclusion or wronged another person, be committed to the unending pursuit of truth, and dedicated to the ideals of civility.
   
• Third, in a time of unrest, people find it helpful to know how those who govern and administer the University think or feel about divisive issues. This is an opportunity to be clear.
   

Thus, I offer the following thoughts for reflection and consideration.

Throughout the course of modern history, few moments have been as politically charged and divisive as the current national climate.

The Riotous Attack on the U. S. Congress

Like so many of you, I was appalled at the wanton display of destruction and violence by those individuals who attacked the seat of our government last Wednesday. Whether one supports or does not support President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris, the actions of those who attacked their fellow citizens and our institutions of government were unconscionable.

We enjoy seemingly unparalleled freedom in America to effect change and hold our representatives in government accountable. So many of our citizens on the two polar extremes of ideological politics have forgotten that our unparalleled freedoms do not exempt us from judgment and accountability ourselves. 

Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, writing in 1919, observed that we are not free to shout 鈥淔ire!鈥� in a crowded theatre when there is no fire. Likewise, under our Federal Constitution, no one has the right to storm into our seat of government with violence as a means of redress.

Whether in Washington or anywhere, rioting and violence and destruction and taking property hostage go far beyond peaceful demonstration . . . all the way to barbarism. These behaviors are not lawful and have long been rejected with outrage by peaceful, law-abiding citizens.

Are we to become a nation of anarchy? I pray not, but we are headed in that direction if citizens and public officials don鈥檛 reject this kind of disregard for the rule of law.

Two Huge Lies that take us Backward, not Forward

Recently, someone said approximately this:

Two huge lies are being forced on American society by those who wish to tear our nation apart. 

The first is that if you disagree with someone, you must fear or hate them. 

The second is that to love someone means you agree with everything they do or believe. 

Both are nonsense! We can be civil and compassionate without compromising our convictions.

I agree. These two big lies are driving people to act irrationally and violently (sometimes against their own family members) in ways we鈥檝e rarely seen in our nation. They highjack our cherished civility and public order to sow seeds of division and accomplish their goals no matter the means or the repercussions. These two lies don鈥檛 help our society seek solutions to human challenges. They only fracture and divide. We must fight against this kind of national manipulation by those who promote this kind of thinking.

While politicians are responsible for their words and their actions and should be held accountable for them at the ballot box and through other legitimate means, the offices they hold and the roles they play must be respected in a free republic no matter the political ideology of the person who occupies the office at the time. This is the American way, a long-held cherished ideal. The men and women we elect to carry out the will of the people through public policy and political discourse are fundamentally critical to democracy. They need our critique, but the offices they hold also deserve our respect.

Unfortunately, too many elected officials and government bureaucrats have forgotten to exercise civility themselves. They are all too often at one another鈥檚 throats in disrespectful and vicious ways. In doing so, they provide the wrong example for people of all ages and all nations. This was not the predominant polity of American government 20 years ago. It鈥檚 a recent development – one that鈥檚 happened largely in the lifetime of our freshmen students.

This will not change as long as we think that anyone, regardless of their politics, is justified in being uncivil.

And yet, government and politics are not where we find our real hope.

It All Matters, but Nothing So Much as Christ

AU is a Christian academic community/family. While not all of our individual family members are Christians, it will not be a surprise that I remind you that I believe our ultimate hope is in Christ!

Not in political ideology or elected officials! It is in Jesus Christ – He who holds tomorrow, who is our savior, who is our king.

If, like me, you believe that, then we are called to 鈥渂orrow鈥� his eyes and follow his example by loving one another, regardless of our differences. We are called to subordinate our temporal passions to the hope of eternal unity in Christ.

In the hours before his crucifixion, Jesus had one last lesson for his disciples and, by extension, for us.

A new commandment I give to you: that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:34-25)

To be fair, policy and politics matter. The issues raised in this and other elections are important. They have serious repercussions for good and ill. You are to be commended for your passion and applauded for exercising your rights as United States citizens, no matter the candidate for whom you voted.

Jesus鈥檚 last words before allowing himself to be led to death was a prayer for us as believers. Imagine that: Jesus, standing in the face of excruciating torment, aware of the impending betrayal of his friends, and defying the power of Rome, took time to pray for you and me. That鈥檚 altogether astonishingly and amazingly mind-altering!

This 鈥渉igh priestly prayer鈥� is our example and guide, now and forever. There are no better words to share in conclusion to this important message to you, my cherished 91福利社 family:

I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one. (John 17:20-22)

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Without question, we are in for the most complex year of operations we have ever experienced at 91福利社. And yet, God is already blessing and encouraging us. With His help, I have no doubt that we will navigate the Journey Ahead鈥攁nd be stronger for it. 

Our COVID-19 Task Force and Journey Ahead teams are prepared for contingencies and challenges by readying our campus for flexibility and rapid adaptability. Making predictions is always difficult; it is never more true than it is right now. Yet, all of us are laser-focused on our core purpose of teaching and learning, and committed to allowing the words and example of Christ to guide our way. We get to lean on one another and help one another in a spirit of gentle love and kindness.

You are a vital part of this effort!

As we prepare for the first Move-In Day on Wednesday, August 12, let鈥檚 commit together to begin the 2020-2021 school year stronger together. I鈥檓 asking each of you to practice servant leadership and personal responsibility in line with Paul鈥檚 encouragement to the church at Philipi: 鈥淒o nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourself, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others.鈥� (Philippians 2:3-4)

What does that look like in practice? It comes first with the recognition that how we behave affects those around us鈥攊n ways good and bad. Our actions, attitudes, deeds, and words ripple outward; what we do and say are not self-contained. When we demonstrate love toward one another, lift each other up, and make sacrifices for the good of our community, hope and unity blossom. That should be our goal always, and it鈥檚 never been more important than it is right now. 

Now, let鈥檚 talk in practical terms. It鈥檚 clear that the more quickly COVID-19 is controlled, the more quickly life can get back to normal. Making small sacrifices now鈥攕uch as following the protocols we鈥檝e established: wearing face coverings, maintaining physical distancing, practicing good hygiene, and keeping away from others when we may be ill鈥攚ill keep us from having to make large, drawn-out, and more painful sacrifices later. 

This is not theoretical; we鈥檝e seen it in action already. During two weeks in July, we hosted 10 Base Camp orientation sessions for new students and their families. These sessions were a rousing success and a brief glimpse into what the 2020-2021 year will look like here at AU. Our new students and their parents told us repeatedly that they appreciated the steps we have taken. They also expressed what we鈥檝e heard from so many of you: that a return to face-to-face and hybridized instruction and the campus experience is their hope and desire. And they put their words into action, joining faculty and staff in following the Journey Ahead guidelines and protocols while demonstrating their commitment to our stronger together approach to reopening campus. 

Of course, Base Camp was much different than what we鈥檙e all used to experiencing. This year on campus will be as well. But we can do it. We will do it. And we will do it stronger together. 

Finally, I strongly encourage you to make a regular habit of visiting our Journey Ahead web page. Major changes to University operations will be communicated directly, but the site is updated often. After all, if we鈥檝e learned anything these past several months, it鈥檚 that things can change rapidly. Rest assured, our entire team is focused intently on preparations for the Journey Ahead, and part of that is providing additional guidelines and protocols as necessary. 

Diane and I love each of you dearly, as does the entire 91福利社 community. We are eager to see your smiling faces again and remain in steadfast prayer for your safe return home to AU.

Blessings,

Evans P. Whitaker, Ph.D.
President and Professor of Management

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