As his last official act May 14 before retiring as president of the University of Mobile (UMobile), Mark Foley will hand out diplomas, shake the hands of 285 graduates and tell each one, “Now go change the world.”

It’s a challenge Foley first issued in 1998 when he was named the third president of Alabama’s youngest Baptist college during a critical point in the school’s history. For more than 18 years, Foley preached the importance of influence and using that influence in the name of Jesus Christ to change the world.

As the last days of his presidency wind down, the accolades continue to pour in. The UMobile board of trustees named him “president emeritus” and announced the former College Park Baptist Church building adjacent to campus will be named in his honor. The official naming of the building will take place once the capital campaign is completed and the building is acquired for campus expansion. (continued…)

– Read the full article from The Alabama Baptist newspaper at: http://www.thealabamabaptist.org/print-edition-article-detail.php?id_art=35543#sthash.jlrMe3R4.dpuf