MOBILE, Ala. – The University of Mobile will formally inaugurate Dr. Charles W. Smith Jr. as its 6th president during a special ceremony on Thursday, May 1, 2025.
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. Dr. Jason Allen, president of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, will deliver the keynote address, followed by a presidential response from Dr. 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 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.
For Christ & His Kingdom
Dr. 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, Dr. Smith holds a PhD from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and Master of Divinity from The 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 is married to Ashley, his high school sweetheart, and together they have three daughters: Ellie, Annie and Susie.
For more information about President Smith and the inaugural celebration, go to umobile.edu/inauguration.
About the University of Mobile
The University of Mobile is a Christ-centered university pursuing excellence “For Christ & His Kingdom.” With a vision to “Multiply Kingdom Leaders for the Glory of God and the Good of the World,” the university honors God by equipping students for their future professions in an environment where they are known.
The university was founded in 1961 and is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention. Located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama, on a campus of over 880 acres, UM offers associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs. Learn more at umobile.edu/um-info and connect with UM on social media @univofmobile, or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.
Kathy Dean uses her passion for storytelling and “playing with words” to share the stories of people, place and purpose that make the University of Mobile unique. As associate vice president for university communications, she manages media relations, edits the TorchLight alumni magazine, and oversees university communications. A former award-winning journalist, she is a two-time recipient of the Baptist Communicators Association grand prize for feature writing. Kathy and her husband, Chuck, live with three extremely loud miniature schnauzers.