It is with a sense of anticipation that we wait to hear what people at the epicenter of change have to say. This was true Oct. 10 when about 1,300 people gathered at Thomas Fine Arts Center on a sunny morning for the formal inauguration of Dr. Ben Burnett as the 10th president of William Carey University.
“I have to admit that envisioning myself as a college president has been the most difficult task in my 37-year career as an educator. It’s more than evident to me that I would not be standing before you today unless God had blessed me with thousands of people who influenced me during my lifetime,” Burnett said.
Among the people who supported him, Burnett listed parents, grandparents, and siblings. Teachers when he was a student at the University of Southern Mississippi. Colleagues and mentors during his years in K-12 public schools. Burnett saved his two biggest influences for last – his wife Denice and son David Lane, who made sacrifices to support his career, overcame medical obstacles and, through it all, pursued careers in higher education.
Dr. Brett Golson, vice president for spiritual development and church relations, presented a special plaque of appreciation to the new president’s father, 96-year-old Dr. Marshall Burnett.
“On behalf of the Cooper School of Missions and Ministry Studies, we would like to recognize you for more than five decades of faithful service to our Lord as a campus minister, pastor, hospice chaplain, and World War II veteran. Thank you for the positive influence you’ve had on so many lives, especially your son, Dr. Ben Burnett,” Golson said.
“We are also excited to announce that 52 years of your sermons will be archived in the Cooper School library and WCU’s main library – where they will be available to ministry students for generations to come.”
Importance of community
Many of the ceremony’s speakers talked about Burnett’s influence on their lives, among them Hattiesburg Mayor Toby Barker.
“I have known Dr. Burnett since his days as Lamar County superintendent, when I was still a relatively new lawmaker on the House Education Committee. In those days, we were both elected officials, but he possessed a great deal of policy and life experience I had not yet accumulated. He always treated me as an equal and respected both of our roles. Then and now, he epitomized servant leadership,” Barker said.
A lifelong educator, Burnett served two terms as superintendent of Lamar County School District. He retired from public education in 2014 and became dean of the WCU School of Education. Burnett served as WCU’s executive vice president from April 2020 until Aug. 16 of this year, his first official day as president of the university.
In his inaugural address before an audience that included hundreds of students, Burnett emphasized the importance of community: “I want our students to know the power of influence as they take their educational journey. I encourage you to stop and say thank you to the people who have influenced you – but also pray that God will use you to influence others.”
And there it is. The invitation to extend your sense of community past your friends, family, and church. To reach out to others as a deliberate and mindful act. To be the person who helps. It’s a core value at William Carey University – where people are called to emulate Christ’s example in their daily lives.
Charting the way forward
Dr. Jimmy Stewart, senior pastor of First Baptist Gulfport, delivered the inaugural address.
“As chairman of William Carey’s board of trustees this year, I'm thankful that you are the one God so clearly pointed us toward, to lead us forward through whatever storms may come, and through whatever celebrations we experience. Dr. Burnett, God has prepared you, positioned you, protected you. Storms of testing will make you stronger. Storms have always made us Carey-strong when we remain Christ-strong,” Stewart said.
Does Burnett have big plans for the future? Yes, he does. It’s one of the reasons WCU’s trustees chose him to succeed Dr. Tommy King as president.
“After a seven-month search, we were very pleased to find our new president right here on campus. Dr. Burnett has an exciting vision for William Carey and a clear understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing higher education,” said Odean Busby, WCU trustee and chairman of the Presidential Search Committee.
Even now, teams of people all over William Carey University are working hard to execute an ambitious 100 Day Plan – and it’s only the beginning.
But on this day of days, his investiture as president, Ben Burnett didn’t talk about his big plans. Instead, his words spoke to the foundation that supports all else, the way we interact with each other, and echoed Paul’s message to the Thessalonians: “Encourage each other and build each other up.”
That’s servant leadership.
In the photo:
Dr. Ben Burnett shares a moment onstage with his father during a special presentation to Dr. Marshall Burnett for his five decades of service to the church – and his influence on the life of William Carey University’s new president. (Photo by Jennifer Carney)
