President O’Brien serves as chaplain for Tennessee Senate session

^{Carson-Newman President Randall O’Brien, center, stands with 1987 C-N alumnus and Chief of Staff Mark Cate, left, and Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam. The three visited during O’Brien’s visit to the state’s capitol where he served as “Chaplain of the Day.”}

(April 24, 2015) – Carson-Newman University President J. Randall O’Brien was invited April 15 to serve as “Chaplain of the Day for the Tennessee State Senate” in Nashville. O’Brien opened the morning’s session in prayer after being introduced by Senator Doug Overbey, a 1976 Carson-Newman alumnus.

Overbey coordinated O’Brien’s Nashville visit.

“Carson-Newman University is well-represented in governmental public service throughout Tennessee,” said O’Brien. “In Nashville, Representative Harry Brooks, Representative Ryan Williams, Senator Doug Overbey, and Mark Cate, the governor’s chief of staff, serve nobly and well. What a privilege it was to serve as ‘Tennessee Senate Chaplain of the Day,’ where I was honored to pray for these humble alumni servant-leaders, along with Lt. Governor Ramsey, Governor Haslam, and all our senators.”

The University also hosted an event for alumni and friends prior to the morning’s session.

Click here to view more photos from the event on Carson-Newman’s Facebook page.

^{President O’Brien, center, visits with Carson-Newman alumni State Representative Harry Brooks, left, and Senator Doug Overbey during O’Brien’s Nashville visit. Brooks graduated from Carson-Newman in 1968, while Overbey earned his degree in 1976.}