University announces Spring Commencement speakers

Click here to view live streaming of the University’s undergraduate ceremony at 9 a.m. on May 8.

(April 30, 2015)— Carson-Newman University has announced its speakers for Graduate and Undergraduate Spring Commencement Friday, May 8. Bradley S. Williams, president and CEO of Holston United Methodist Home for Children in Greeneville, will address undergraduate students and Religion Department Chair Dr. David Crutchley will address graduate students.

The undergraduate ceremony will be at 9 a.m. at Burke-Tarr Stadium and the graduate ceremony will be at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary of the First Baptist Church of Jefferson City.

Williams has been with Holston Home since 2002, beginning as vice president for program services before being promoted to chief operating officer and eventually president and CEO. He has served as the board president of the Tennessee Alliance for Children and Families, and as the former deputy director of the Cumberland County Department of Social Services in North Carolina.

With more than 20 years of service in the field, Williams has served in numerous leadership roles at various faith-based private non-profit and for-profit family services agencies.

Williams graduated at the top of his class earning an M.S. degree in social work from the University of Tennessee, where the Knoxville native also graduated magna cum laude with his bachelor’s degree in Psychology. He serves on the Greeneville Young Life Board, belongs to the Greeneville Exchange Club and coaches various youth sports.

Williams lives in Greeneville with his wife Denise and their two children.

Crutchley teaches upper-level New Testament electives that include “Sermon on the Mount,” “The Fourth Gospel” and “Paul.” He has been at Carson-Newman since 2004. He grew up in southern Africa and leads Carson-Newman’s annual summer trip to Cape Town, South Africa for his course, “Being Fully Human: Spirituality Out of Africa.”

Crutchley is involved in the Baptist World Alliance and serves as senior interim pastor at First Baptist Church of Dandridge.

In the event of inclement weather, undergraduate ceremony will be split into two services located in Holt Field House. The first ceremony will be at 9 a.m. and will include Athletic Training, Art, Biology, Chemistry, Communications, Education, English, Exercise Science, Film, History, Math, Music, Political Science, Philosophy, Physics, Psychology, Religion, Sociology and World Languages.

The second undergraduate ceremony will begin at 1 p.m. and includes Business, Family and Consumer Sciences and Nursing graduates.