SWU News:

April 25, 2006

Graduation speaker adept at making history

He’s been making history for the past several years.

This year, that history was completed and published. “How Firm a Foundation” is an account of the 100-year history of Southern Wesleyan University compiled by religion professor Dr. Bob Black in honor of the 2006 university’s centennial celebration.

Now, Black will be part of the university’s history, himself, as graduation speaker for the university’s two commencement ceremonies on May 6 at the main campus in Central.

The university will have two separate graduation ceremonies May 6 at Walden Tysinger Gymnasium. The 10 a.m. ceremony is for graduating students from the university’s Central and Greenville locations earning associate’s, and bachelor’s degrees, and for students from all locations earning Master of Science or Master of Business Administration degrees. The 3 p.m. ceremony is for students from the university’s Charleston, Columbia and North Augusta locations earning associate’s and bachelor’s degrees, as well as for students from all locations earning Master of Education or Master of Ministry degrees.

The university expects to confer approximately 385 degrees, according to Registrar Rock McCaskill.

For details, call Southern Wesleyan University’s Academic Records Department at (864) 644-5530. Tickets, issued through the university, are required for those attending graduation. Overflow seating is available, which will allow guests without tickets to view the ceremony via a closed circuit broadcast.

Black has served as a member of the university faculty since August 1986, serving as religion division chair for 10 years. He is a 1967 graduate of what was then Central Wesleyan College (now Southern Wesleyan University). He also holds an M.Div. degree from Asbury Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. in Church History from Union Theological Seminary in Virginia.

He was named Southern Wesleyan University’s faculty member of the year for 1986-87, 1990-91 and 1999-2000.

Black has contributed to “Reformers and Revivalists,” the denominational history of The Wesleyan Church, as well as several other reference works in his field. His commentary on First and Second Timothy was published in 2004 for the Wesleyan Bible Commentary Series. Black is also a member of the denomination’s General Board.

Other end-of-semester events include Baccalaureate Chapel on May 4. The speaker for the service will be Dr. Keith Carroll of Thomasville, N.C. He is pastor of Mt. Zion Wesleyan Church and a university trustee. Carroll is also the father of senior and 2006 graduate Melissa Carroll.