125 Years of Making the Difference
In 1892, North Greenville University was founded on a hill of its own here in South Carolina’s “Dark Corner” — a region that was filled with hopelessness and illiteracy. The churches of the area hoped that the love of God would fill its classrooms and the students who would sit in those classrooms would have their hearts, minds, and souls inspired with a new vision of what is possible when Christ makes the difference in a person’s life.
In my travels, I hear constantly from alumni about how this special place, this shining campus on a hill, has made a difference in their lives, in their children’s lives, in their parents’ and grandparents’ lives, and in the life of the region itself.
I have met alumni and friends from all around the world, and I know for a fact that the prayers, conversations, and lessons that happen in Tigerville — and now in our Tim Brashier Campus in Greer, SC, and even in online classes — all are part of the Christ-first difference NGU has made in the past.
NGU’s future will always be contingent on faithfulness to our mission of preparing students to be godly educators, business leaders, coaches, artists, musicians, scientists, lawyers, accountants, and — yes! — pastors, missionaries, and church leaders. We must continue to produce transformational leaders for church and society.
Join us in our next era of faithfulness to this mission — God’s mission for NGU — by celebrating with us, by praying with us, and by partnering with us to support our own unique and critical work for the Lord.
Gene C. Fant, Jr.
President
North Greenville University
PRINCIPALS AND PRESIDENTS OF NORTH GREENVILLE
| 1892 – 1895 | 1st Principal | Hugh Lafayette Brock |
| 1895 – 1898 | 2nd Principal | John Silas Miles Finch |
| 1898 – 1902 | 3rd Principal | Oscar Peterson |
| 1902 – 1904 | 4th Principal | S. Frank Boyles |
| 1904 – 1906 | 5th Principal | William Fletcher Scott |
| 1906 – 1910 | 6th Principal | Leslie Augustus Jones |
| 1910 – 1912 | 7th Principal | John Dean Crain |
| 1912 – 1919 | 8th Principal | Leonard Simpson |
| 1919 – 1928 | 9th Principal | Henry Clayton Hester |
| 1928 – 1962 | 1st President /10th Principal | Murphree C. Donnan |
| 1962 – 1970 | 2nd President | Thomas L. Neely |
| 1970 – 1975 | 3rd President | Harold E. Lindsey |
| 1975 – 1980 | 4th President | George Silver |
| 1981 – 1987 | 5th President | James D. Jordan |
| 1988 – 1991 | 6th President | Paul Talmadge |
| 1991 – 2015 | 7th President | James B. Epting |
| 2017 – Present | 8th President | Gene C. Fant, Jr. |
SPECIAL GUESTS
John D. Basie (Ph.D., Baylor University) serves as the provost at Erskine College and Seminary in Due West, SC. He previously served as the academic programs director at Impact 360 Institute for over a decade, where he and Pres. Fant worked on several projects together.
Kevin L. Bryant (B.S., University of Georgia) is South Carolina’s 92nd lieutenant governor. A longtime business leader in Anderson, SC, Bryant served as a state senator for multiple terms and was appointed to serve in his current position after Nikki Haley resigned as governor to become the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
Cheryl A. Collier (Ph.D., University of Georgia) is a professor of English and the chair of the English Department at NGU.
Betty Jo Craft (Honorary Doctorate, Dallas Baptist University) is a member of First Baptist Church – Columbia, SC. For many decades, Craft and her late husband, Ira, were tireless supporters of missions and church planting in the northeastern U.S., including the churches that Pres. Fant’s father planted near Buffalo, NY. She has served on the NGU Board of Trustees for multiple terms, concluding her service in 2017.
Bernie A. Cueto (Ph.D., Dallas Theological Seminary) serves as the campus pastor at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, FL. He is also pastor of Family Church Gardens, where the Fants were members during their service in Florida.
David S. Dockery (Ph.D., University of Texas) is the president of Trinity International University, which includes Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. For almost two decades, he served as the president of Union University in Jackson, TN, where Pres. Fant served on his cabinet. One of the leading evangelical scholars, Dockery has written or edited dozens of books. He is also the president of the Evangelical Theological Society.
Kady L. Floyd (B.S., North Greenville University, expected ’18) is the president of NGU’s Student Government Association. A native of Greenville, SC, Floyd has also been involved on campus as a resident coordinator, work study, and First Year Experience mentor. She is currently studying business administration and marketing at NGU.
Gary L. Hollingsworth (D. Min., Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) serves as the executive director-treasurer of the South Carolina Baptist Convention in Columbia, SC.
Aubrey K. Lucas (Ph.D., Florida State University) is the president emeritus of the The University of Southern Mississippi (USM), where he was a transformational leader for over 20 years. Previously, he had served as the president at Delta State University in Cleveland, MS. Pres. Fant was Lucas’ research assistant after he completed his doctoral work at USM.
Toney C. Parks (D. Min., Westminster Theological Seminary) pastors Mt. Sinai Baptist Church in Greenville, SC. He is also a former NGU staff member.
William “Bill” Tyler (B.S., University of South Carolina) is the owner-operator of the Greer, SC, Chick-fil-A; he has worked for the company since he was 15 years old. Tyler also serves as the minster of worship at Riverside Baptist Church in Greer. He is chairman of the NGU Board of Trustees, and he also chaired the presidential search committee that recommended Pres. Fant’s hiring to the board.
John W. White III (J.D., Cumberland School of Law at Samford University) is the co-founder and president of Lifeshape, which includes Impact 360 Institute. He and his wife, Trudy Cathy White, are part of the Chick-fil-A family. They have served as missionaries in Brazil and in many community development efforts.
DELEGATES
John T. Netland
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Union University
Founded in 1823
Andre S. Bernardi
Assistant Athletic Director and Director of Speed, Strength, and Conditioning
Furman University
Founded in 1826
John D. Baise
Provost
Erskine College
Founded in 1839
Hunter Baker
Alumni Delegate
Baylor University
Founded in 1845
Kelly Curtis
Vice President for Institutional Advancement
Limestone College
Founded in 1845
M. Christopher White
President
Chowan University
Founded in 1848
Erin Smith
Alumni Delegate
Winthrop University
Founded in 1886
Jeffrey H. Barker
Provost
Converse College
Founded in 1889
Julie Godshall Brown
Presidential Representative
Clemson University
Founded in 1889
David S. Dockery
President
Trinity International University
Founded in 1897
Todd S. Voss
President
Southern Wesleyan University
Founded in 1906
Aubrey K. Lucas
President Emeritus
The University of Southern Mississippi
Founded in 1910
Anita K. Bowles
Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
Spartanburg Methodist College
Founded in 1911
Evans Whitaker
President
Anderson University
Founded in 1911
Jonathan C. Key
Vice President for Institutional Advancement
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
Founded in 1917
David Olive
President
Bluefield College
Founded in 1922
Steve Pettit
President
Bob Jones University
Founded in 1927
Keith Whitfield
Dean of Graduate Studies
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
Founded 1950
Robin D. Hadaway
Professor of Missions
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Founded in 1957
Timothy Smith
President
University of Mobile
Founded in 1961
Michael L. Bryant
Executive Vice President
Charleston Southern University
Founded in 1964
Bernie A. Cueto
Campus Pastor
Palm Beach Atlantic University
Founded in 1968
INSTITUTIONAL GREETINGS & CONGRATULATIONS
| Abilene Christian University |
| Asbury Theological Seminary |
| Azusa Pacific University |
| Baylor University |
| Bethel College (Indiana) |
| Bethel University |
| Blue Mountain College |
| Calvin College |
| Campbell University |
| Charleston Southern University |
| Coastal Carolina University |
| Colorado Christian University |
| Crown College |
| Dallas Baptist University |
| Delta State University |
| Eastern University |
| Friends University |
| Furman University |
| Georgetown College |
| Gordon College |
| Greenville University (Illinois) |
| Hardin-Simmons University |
| Harding University |
| Indiana Wesleyan University |
| James Madison University |
| John Brown University |
| John Witherspoon College |
| Kuyper College |
| Lincoln Christian University |
| Malone University |
| Missouri Baptist University |
| New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary |
| Northwest Christian University |
| Northwest Nazarene University |
| NYACK University |
| Old Dominion University |
| Pepperdine University |
| Presbyterian College |
| Samford University |
| San Diego Christian College |
| Southern Nazarene University |
| Southwest Baptist University |
| Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary |
| Spring Arbor University |
| Taylor University |
| The King’s College (New York City) |
| Toccoa Falls College |
| Union University |
| University of Montevallo |
| University of North Alabama |
| University of North Western |
| University of South Carolina – Upstate |
| University of West Georgia |
| Valdosta State University |
| Warner University |
| Wayland Baptist University |
| William Jessup University |
| Winthrop University |
| Young Harris College |
SYMBOLS OF INVESTITURE
Inaugural processions are a relic of medievalism in modern university life, taking place as early as the twelfth century. The procession is comprised of university faculty who wish to participate, as well as delegates representing various academic institutions, along with administrative leadership.
At North Greenville, the faculty marshal begins the procession and declares the start of the ceremony while carrying the mace. The faculty marshal of this ceremony is Professor of English James S. Washick, faculty member since 2001.
All of these symbols will be employed in President Fant’s investiture.
The mace is ceremonial and dates back to sixteenth-century England where it was used as a formidable weapon to protect high ranking civil, educational, and religious officials, and royalty. Today, the mace has become a symbol of authority and is carried by a distinguished member of the academic community.
The presidential medallion is worn as part of the president’s academic attire at ceremonial occasions such as commencement and Founders’ Day. It is worn around the neck and drapes down across the chest and the back. The medallion, like the North Greenville University mace, signifies the authority of the University’s chief executive.
The inaugural Bible represents the foundation upon which North Greenville University stands. Over the course of its existence, the North Greenville community has grown to embody a faithful, generous, and orthodox evangelicalism, committed to the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and the truthfulness of Holy Scriptures. The North Greenville connection is one of kinship and shared values – all of which are shaped by the pattern of Christian truth.