Author: Dr. Lonnie Burnett

Dear UM Family,

As we prepare to welcome students to campus for fall semester, we do so in a world that is dramatically changed from only a few months ago. The pandemic has impacted the ways we interact with one another and focused our attention on protecting the most vulnerable among us. Likewise, the killing of George Floyd has caused us to examine our hearts and our actions as we confront the issue of racial inequity in the distribution of justice in our country.

This week, I received an email from a recent graduate who loves her university, but also urges us to do more. She asked that we send a statement saying that we care and show people that Christianity believes in unity. I told her I disagreed with one thing she said – I feel it is not enough to “say” that we care. Actions speak louder than words. To that end, this fall we will form a diversity committee of students, faculty and staff to assess diversity on campus and recommend initiatives. Before the COVID situation forced us to move online, I had met with local government and school officials about partnerships that would lead to more minority students from our community at the university. We have been discussing partnerships where our faculty would go to these schools to help assist their students in preparing for college. I look forward to resuming those conversations, and initiating many more.

The world is a broken place, and there is much to do. Yet in the midst of this brokenness, there is Hope. Jesus gave us the guiding principle for us all to follow. He never said that we would be counted among His followers based on our political party, the color of our skin, or our economic status. In John 13:35, He said we would be known as His disciples if we love one another. I am troubled that so many in our world only deal in hate. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. beautifully expressed the futility of this path when he noted that “darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” The love that the world needs today comes from the sincere desire to be like Jesus.

May we never as a nation or as a university think that we have perfected Christ-like love. The goal of the framers of the United States Constitution was to form a “more perfect” Union. This is still a work in progress. My prayer is that we all do our part in Christ-like love to keep pressing toward that goal.

The University of Mobile exists to shine the light of Christ’s love throughout this broken world. We do this through all alumni, students, faculty, staff and supporters who live out this belief.

We do this through you.

Lonnie Burnett, PhD
President
University of Mobile

Dr. Lonnie Burnett

Lonnie Burnett, Ph.D., is the fifth president of his alma mater, the University of Mobile. A long-time professor of history, dean and administrator at UM, Dr. Burnett previously taught U.S. history at the middle and high school levels in the Mobile County Public School System. Dr. Burnett has served as a member of the Saraland City School Board since 2010 and was one of five school board members statewide to be named to the 2017 All-State School Board by the Alabama Association of School Boards. He received the university’s Mitford Ray Megginson Research Award in 2006 and is the author of two books published by the University of Alabama Press, “Henry Hotze: Confederate Propagandist,” and “The Pen Makes a Good Sword: John Forsyth of the Mobile Register.” He has written numerous articles, book chapters and reviews, and is managing editor for The Alabama Review, a quarterly journal of Alabama history published by the Alabama Historical Association in cooperation with the University of Mobile. He is an active member of Redemption Church in north Mobile. His wife, Lynne, and daughter, Lauren Burnett Wetzel, are both University of Mobile graduates.

As the nation in general, and institutions of higher education in particular, navigate the uncharted waters into which we have all been tossed, the mission of a Christ-centered university becomes more important than ever.  Just a month ago, our students were focused on completing mid-term exams and then perhaps a restful week at the beach or Disney World.  When they left campus for spring break, life was good.  Almost overnight, their isolated sense of security melted away as their courses, finances, campus living arrangements, freedom of travel and, even in some cases, the health of themselves or their families, were abruptly transformed. Now we have students spread out literally around the world who are, at best anxious and, at worst, terribly frightened.

It is in this setting that an institution like the University of Mobile has the unique chance to rise to the occasion and show, not just that we can maintain a strong academic program, but also the love of Christ.  It is interesting that several companies have already starting surveying university and high school students to see how their attitudes and expectations have been affected by the current crisis.  Many are saying things like they value an institution’s ability to provide caring mentoring.  They rank items like “The professors and staff care about me as a person” very high in their desired attributes.  What an opportunity for us distinguish ourselves.

How then, do we position ourselves in this time of upheaval?  I heard a pastor recently ask, “Do we give up or do we look up?”  At UM, we are making a conscious effort to show our students that, just because they are not physically on campus, they are still a part of a caring family.  Our faculty and staff are going to great lengths to stay in contact with, and minister to, students.  One advantage of a small to mid-size Christian institution is that this is a manageable task.  If one of the “family’ is hurting, we know it quickly and respond.  In addition to our classes, we have done remote chapel services, prayer groups, and Bible studies.  As hard as it is sometimes for academics to realize, at this particular moment, a student understandably might be facing pressures beyond what we can comprehend.

Finally, as the president of a Christ-centered university, it is my role to reassure our students, faculty and staff that our God is faithful.  The same God who is with us on the mountaintop is faithful while we temporarily walk through a valley.  The greatest advantage institutions such as ours have is the liberty of sharing our faith and hope with those who are struggling.  I constantly think of the question that Mordecai asked Queen Esther.  Who knows, but that we have been called for such a time as this?

Dr. Lonnie Burnett

Lonnie Burnett, Ph.D., is the fifth president of his alma mater, the University of Mobile. A long-time professor of history, dean and administrator at UM, Dr. Burnett previously taught U.S. history at the middle and high school levels in the Mobile County Public School System. Dr. Burnett has served as a member of the Saraland City School Board since 2010 and was one of five school board members statewide to be named to the 2017 All-State School Board by the Alabama Association of School Boards. He received the university’s Mitford Ray Megginson Research Award in 2006 and is the author of two books published by the University of Alabama Press, “Henry Hotze: Confederate Propagandist,” and “The Pen Makes a Good Sword: John Forsyth of the Mobile Register.” He has written numerous articles, book chapters and reviews, and is managing editor for The Alabama Review, a quarterly journal of Alabama history published by the Alabama Historical Association in cooperation with the University of Mobile. He is an active member of Redemption Church in north Mobile. His wife, Lynne, and daughter, Lauren Burnett Wetzel, are both University of Mobile graduates.