Carol Whitley
  • MSL
  • Class of 2012
  • Somerville, TN

Carol Whitley Celebrates Belhaven University Memphis Graduation

2012 May 14

Carol Whitley from Somerville, TN applied for April graduation and is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Management from Belhaven University.

Belhaven University Memphis recently celebrated the accomplishments of students at the graduation commencement on April 26, 2012.

Don Jones, Director of Admission & Student Services at Belhaven Memphis, said, "The ceremony was an inspiring celebration of the hard work these graduates have put in over the years. From all walks of life, these students joined us in their academic journey. Our staff and faculty are blessed to have traveled with them. We are sad to see them leave, but rejoice with them in the accomplishment of their degrees."

The Belhaven Memphis Commencement was held at Second Presbyterian Church. Reverend Rufus Smith, IV was the commencement speaker for the graduating class.

Rev. Smith is the Associate Pastor of Preaching/Teaching and a Senior Manager at Hope Presbyterian Church in Memphis. For 13 years he served as the Senior Pastor of City of Refuge (COR) Church, an intentionally integrated, biblically centered and socially active congregation.

In addition, he was the Founder and CEO of the Forge for Families (FFF), a Community Development Center into the Greater 3rd Ward Community of Houston. FFF used athletics, after-school enrichment, adult life-skills and entrepreneurial indigenous leadership development as a means to empower "at risk" single parents and struggling families. Under his leadership, FFF successfully completed a $6,000,000 million dollar capital campaign and built a 40,000 square foot campus, debt free.

For three years, Rev. Smith was the lead chaplain for the NBA Houston Rockets and he continues to advise on other local/national boards. He studied at Houston Baptist University majoring in theology and psychology. Rev. Smith and wife his Jacqueline have three children.

Congratulations to the Belhaven Memphis graduating class of 2011-2012.

Belhaven stands among the select Christian colleges and universities that offer a unique general core curriculum encouraging the development of a personal worldview. The university believes a Christian worldview is a key to preparing men and women academically and spiritually to serve Christ Jesus in their careers, in human relationships, and in the world of ideas.

Founded in 1883, Belhaven University now serves over 3,000 students from campuses in Jackson, Memphis, Orlando, Houston, Chattanooga, Atlanta and online, offering traditional undergraduate degrees, graduate and adult degree programs, and online degree programs.