Faulkner University celebrated the inauguration of former Harding University Vice President of Advancement Dr. Mike Williams as its eighth president on Feb. 12, in Montgomery, Alabama, in the Tine Davis Gymnasium. The inauguration ceremony marked the official installment of Mike Williams as president and Faulkner’s first ever presidential inauguration.
Williams took office in June 2015, after being announced in January as Faulkner’s new president after a year-long search led by an eight-member committee. He assumes the place of Dr. Billy Hilyer, who served as president for 29 years and is now honored as chancellor.
Williams served at Harding for 28 years as director of admissions, assistant vice president of enrollment services and vice president of advancement before accepting his new position at Faulkner.
“This is a man whose resume is written to be a college president,” Harding’s Senior Advancement Officer Steve Lake, who worked under Mike Williams during his time at Harding, said after attending the inauguration. “It was a privilege to see Mike fulfill a dream and embrace a ministry that I believe he’s been called to do.”
Mike Williams’ wife, Lisa Williams, said that the inauguration was a historical moment for the life of the school.
“The Faulkner community at large is excited for a new way to go about doing things,” Lisa Williams said. “They believe they have a lot of potential. They have welcomed our family with open arms and we are humbled by this experience.”
Faulkner senior Katyln Pouncy said that the student body has embraced Mike Williams and is excited for the future. Pouncy said that during Faulkner’s Freshman Experience program, Mike Williams told the students that he had specifically prayed for each student at Faulkner and that effort impressed her as a senior.
“He makes things interesting and makes people want to get to know him,” Pouncy said. “The atmosphere has changed so much with him here.”
Pouncy said that Mike Williams gave the students his cell phone number during the first chapel and it helped the students feel more connected to him. Students not only sent him prayer requests, but also asked him what they could pray for specifically for him. Pouncy said that a group of freshmen even texted him inviting him to eat jamalaya with them and he accepted.
“Mike (Williams) has a great heart,” Lake said. “I believe that Mike’s greatest gift is that he truly believes that Christian higher education is a holy mission. He and his family are great people and we’re going to miss them here.”
