The University of Mobile will formally inaugurate Charles W. Smith Jr. as its 6th president during a special ceremony on Thursday (May 1).
The inaugural celebration will begin at 2:30 p.m. at Redemption Church in Saraland, Alabama, with special guests from across the Southern Baptist Convention, delegates from colleges and universities across the nation, local and state leaders, and the university community. Jason Allen, president of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, will deliver the keynote address, followed by a message from Smith.
Inaugural festivities will continue on the university campus with UM’s Spring Spectacular outdoor concert and fireworks show. A pre-show featuring the Saraland Elementary Show Choir will begin at 7 p.m., and the Spring Spectacular, featuring students from UM’s Alabama School of the Arts, will start at 7:30 p.m. The evening will conclude with a fireworks display behind William K. Weaver Hall.
Both the inauguration ceremony and the Spring Spectacular concert and fireworks event are open to the public. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs to campus to enjoy the concert and fireworks show at the Dr. Fred & Sue Lackey Great Commission Lawn.
Background
Smith was unanimously elected as the sixth president of the University of Mobile on March 21, 2024. Under his leadership, the renewed vision of the University of Mobile is to focus on advancing the mission “For Christ & His Kingdom” by multiplying Kingdom leaders who embrace their callings and live out the Great Commission for the glory of God and the good of the world.
A native of Montgomery, Alabama, Smith holds a Ph.D. from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and master of divinity from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Over the years, he has served in a variety of leadership roles in theological education, most recently as senior vice president for institutional relations at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Spurgeon College.
He and his wife, Ashley, have three daughters.
For more information about Smith and the inaugural celebration, go to umobile.edu/inauguration.
The service will be live-streamed on University of Mobile Facebook page and also on UM website at umobile.edu/inauguration.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Kathy Dean and originally published by the University of Mobile.
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