2023 Baccalaureate Service Program

Baccalaureate Service Virtual Platform

Friday, May 5, 2023 11:00 A.M. (CT)

Dr. Dwight J. Fennell President

Trustee Lawrence L. Reddick III Chairman, Board of Trustees

Baccalaureate Speaker

Rev. Dr. Jeremy L. Williams Rev. Dr. Jeremy L. Williams currently serves as the Dean of the Eighth Episcopal District ’ s Leadership Training Institute. He is a nationally sought - out thinker, preacher, leader, and author. He hails from Rocket City, USA— Huntsville, Alabama. He is a scholar of religion, specializing in New Testament and Early Christianity. He serves as an Assistant Professor of New Testament at Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University. Rev. Dr. Williams attended Lee High School, where he graduated salutatorian of his class. Following his high school graduation, he pursued his baccalaureate degree at Vanderbilt University, where he graduated with the highest honors in Religious Studies and Economics. He then earned the Master of Divinity degree from Yale Divinity School, in which he was awarded the Henry Hallam Tweedy Prize, the highest award presented to graduates. Rev. Dr. Williams pursued and earned the Master of Arts degree, as well as the Doctor of Philosophy degree at Harvard University. Rev. Dr. Williams has done archaeology restoration at

Madgala, Israel, as well as presented work in Germany at the Berlin Graduate School of Ancient Studies. Further, he has read Biblical Hebrew in Jerusalem, the Greek New Testament in Athens, and Classical Latin in Rome. Rev. Dr. Williams' research involves studying biblical passages, especially in Acts, where imperial and local officials criminalize the Jesus following movement. His approach involves using Roman legal studies, critical race theory, Black studies, womanist cultural criticism, and material culture to assess how ancient texts crafted narratives to racialize, criminalize, and victimize individuals and groups of people. Conscious of the role that the Bible plays in public policy, he is invested in developing strategies for reading biblical texts in ways that expose the logics that fuel mass incarceration, over - policing, and discriminatory practices in Western judicial systems. He has a number of academic publications including, "I am a Human: Racializing Assemblages and Criminalized Egyptianness in Acts 21:31 - 39" in Bitter the Chastening Rod: Africana Biblical Interpretation after Stony the Road We Trod in the Age of #BLM, #SayHerName, and #MeToo. His book Criminalization in Acts of the Apostles: Race, Rhetoric, and the Prosecution of an Early Christian Movement is under contract with Cambridge University Press and is scheduled for publication in 2023. Rev. Dr. Williams received his ordinations in the North Central Alabama Region of the Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church as a member of Acklin CME Church in Berkley, Alabama. He has had the opportunity to preach, present, and teach at some of the denomination ’ s largest gatherings including the Connectional Youth and Young Adult Conference, the Pastors ’ Conference at Phillips School of Theology, the Unity Summit, and multiple annual and district conferences. He has received appointments in the North Central Alabama Region, the New York - Washington Region, and the Dallas - Fort Worth - Northwest Region. Rev. Dr. Williams is a non - profit leader. He currently chairs the Board of FaithActs for Education based in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He worked at the corporate office of the Boys & Girls Clubs of North Alabama, where in one year he secured over $600,000 in grants for the organization. He served his honorable fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi, as the National Second Vice President (Junior Grand Vice Polemarch). He also received the highest award given to undergraduates. Rev. Dr. Williams is married to the former Kiara. J. Boone. Five months ago, he and Kiara welcomed their first child, Baby J, into the world. They are also dog parents to Kali. Rev. Dr. Williams works every day to inspire people to “ dream better dreams. ”

Program Dr. Jan Duncan, Presiding

MUSICAL PRELUDE

CALL TO ORDER

Dr. Jan Duncan Vice President for Academic Affairs

National Anthem: Star - Spangled Banner Negro National Anthem: Lift Every Voice and Sing

ANTHEMS*

INVOCATION

Rev. Dr. Edward Robinson Associate Professor of History & Religion

OCCASION

Dr. Cynthia Marshall - Biggins Vice President for Student Affairs

OPENING REMARKS

Dr. Dwight J. Fennell President

MUSICAL VIDEO PRESENTATION*

GREETINGS

The Honorable Dr. Shirley McKellar Councilmember, District 3 - Northwest Tyler, Texas Trustee Patricia McKenzie Vice Chairperson Texas College Board of Trustees

Ms. Millicent Rickenbacker Vice President for Business and Finance

MUSICAL SELECTION

Texas College Choir Mr. Charles Shaw, Director

INTRODUCTION OF SPEAKER

Dr. Dwight J. Fennell

BACCALAUREATE ADDRESS

Rev. Dr. Jeremy L. Williams Dean of the Eighth Episcopal District ’ s Leadership Training Institute Christian Methodist Episcopal Church

MUSICAL SELECTION

Texas College Choir

CLOSING REMARKS

Trustee Lawrence L. Reddick III Chairman Texas College Board of Trustees

BENEDICTION

Rev. Dr. Edward Robinson

ALMA MATER

POSTLUDE

*Resource:YouTube

Mission Statement Texas College is a Historically Black College founded in 1894, by a group of CME ministers. Our mission continues to embody the principles of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. The College shall prepare students with competencies in critical and creative thinking related to the knowledge, skills, and abilities as defined in areas of study. Additionally, the College shall provide an environment to inspire intellectual, spiritual, ethical, moral, and social development, which empowers graduates to engage in life - long learning, leadership, and service.

Core Values

To address the mission, the College incorporates the Core Values listed below:

• Academic Excellence - developing a culture of curiosity and creativity that will challenge the frontiers of teaching/learning; stimulate research; raise the level of analytical reasoning and inquiry; and enable students to acquire leadership, human relations, communication, and technology skills. • Integrity - instilling the pursuit of character, honesty, and sincerity of purpose as the moral rubrics upon which the behaviors of our graduates and College family are anchored. • Perseverance - implanting diligence, enterprise, and pride in the application of skills, knowledge, and abilities developed during the course of study at Texas College. • Social Responsibility - promoting in the College community a conscious awareness that we are all stewards of the resources entrusted to our care. • Tolerance - emphasizing openness to divergent points of view, applying an eclectic approach to rational and analytical thinking. • Community Service - encouraging self - extension in service to others as the heart and soul of our educational enterprise.

Vision Statement

Texas College — a creative, culturally diverse, inclusive environment, preparing students who aspire to be purpose - driven, financially secure and marketable leaders.