JACKSON, Tenn. — Sept. 5, 2025 — Union University trustees during their Sept. 4-5 meeting on the Union campus recognized the service of three men ending their board tenure and celebrated the success of the Lady Bulldogs basketball team.
At a Sept. 4 dinner preceding their meeting, trustees thanked Gil Fletcher, Kylan Mann and Brian Taylor, each of whom is rotating off the Board of Trustees after serving for nine years.
“We are blessed at Union University to have so many men and women willing to sacrifice their time and provide leadership to the university as trustees,” Union President Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver said. “We are thankful to the Lord for their faithful service, and we especially appreciate Gil, Kylan and Brian for their contributions to Union over the past nine years.”
The dinner also featured a recognition of Mark Campbell, head coach of the Union women’s basketball team, and the Lady Bulldogs for their NCAA Division II Final Four appearance during the 2024-25 season. Union finished the season with a record of 33-4 while winning its 10th Gulf South Conference regular season title, seventh GSC tournament title and second NCAA Division II South Region title.
It was the second time for the Lady Bulldogs to advance to the NCAA Division II national semifinals.
In June, Campbell was one of seven new inductees to the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. This will be the 27th year he has coached the Lady Bulldogs, compiling a career record of 775-120.
“Coach Campbell and the Lady Bulldogs are a perfect example of Christ-centered excellence on the Union campus,” Oliver said. “They excel on the court and in the classroom, they reflect Union well and they are faithful followers of Christ. We are pleased to honor them with the recognition they most certainly deserve.”
During their meeting Sept. 5, trustees received a positive financial report from the university administration, with record revenues during the 2024-25 fiscal year of just over $105 million – only the second time in Union’s history with revenue exceeding $100 million. Oliver reported to trustees that the university operated in the black during the past fiscal year, with expenditures totaling about $97 million.
Jeff Perkins, chairman of Union’s Board of Trustees, expressed his gratitude for Union’s continued financial stability.
“In a day when so many institutions are struggling financially, we are thankful that the Lord remains faithful to bless Union with financial health,” Perkins said. “We commend the Union administration for their wise stewardship of university resources.”
Trustees also re-elected Perkins as board chairman, Josh Dougan as vice chairman and Kay Griffin as secretary, in addition to approving Chuck Baker as chairman of the academic affairs committee, Dougan as chairman of the finance and audit committee, Jim Farmer as chairman of the institutional advancement committee and Trent Bullock as chairman of the student life and ministry committee.
In his report to trustees, Oliver updated them on the status of the chapel building project for which Union is raising funds. The freestanding chapel, part of the campus master plan, will be adjacent to the current chapel and be clearly visible from the heavily trafficked Highway 45 Bypass, with a steeple that will rise above every other building on campus to symbolize Union’s Christ-centered commitment.
To date, Union has raised about $7.4 million toward the project’s estimated $30 million cost. Design development is complete, with the next phase being construction documents. Oliver said that process should be finished in March and will be followed by securing necessary permits.
For more information or to give to the project, visit www.uu.edu/jackson/buildings/new-chapel.