100 Doctoral, Graduate, and Undergraduate Students Joined the DBU Alumni Family at Summer Commencement

On August 2, 2024, Dallas Baptist University celebrated 100 new graduates at the 10:00 A.M. service, including the commencement speaker, Dr. Carter Willis, who graduated with a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership.

Dr. Carter Willis

As an only child and pastor's kid, Dr. Carter Willis grew up closely connected to a vibrant community, fostering a deep love for God and people. This passion led him to pursue a Christian Studies degree at DBU in 2007. However, within his first semester, Dr. Willis discovered that his calling lay not in traditional ministry but in utilizing his God-given talents in any career path. This realization guided him to the field of Communication, where he earned his undergraduate degree in Communication: Broadcast/Digital Media and a graduate degree in Organizational Communication. Dr. Willis has been working full-time for DBU for 14 years. He started his career as the Director of Student Life, where he co-founded and sponsored the Psi Omega Phi fraternity. Dr. Willis then spent six years in undergraduate admissions, attending over 500 recruiting events and counseling countless students through their transition to college. It was during this time that he began teaching as an adjunct professor in the College of Fine Arts, where he discovered his passion for teaching and embarked on pursuing a Doctorate in Educational Leadership with an emphasis in higher education at DBU, which he was awarded during the commencement service. Dr. Willis' dissertation explores the relationship between charisma, teacher effectiveness, and retention in higher education, emphasizing the importance of connecting with students beyond academic instruction. Now in his seventh year as the Program Director of DBU's Master of Arts in Communication, Dr. Willis continues to make a significant impact on the university and its students. Among his many achievements at DBU, Dr. Willis considers meeting his wife, Chelsea, his most distinguished. Outside of his professional life, he invests his time in his local Oak Cliff community and his church and co-hosts the podcast "Two Chunks and a Hunk (LLC)".

Honorary Doctor of Divinity Recipient, Dr. David Hardage

Dr. David Hardage has been a pillar of the Texas Baptist community for his whole life. Most recently, he served as the Executive Director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT) from 2012 until 2022. In this role, Dr. Hardage expanded the influence and work of the organization's commitment to serving Baptists across the state. Dr. Hardage earned a Bachelor of Arts in Religion from Baylor University in 1979 and a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Theological Seminary in 1983. In 1993, he received a Doctor of Ministry from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri. Dr. Hardage's career had humble beginnings as he pastored in several small Baptist churches across Texas and Oklahoma, where he remained steadfast in the ministry in which the Lord had called him. In 2004, he began serving as the Director of the Waco Regional Baptist Network. In 2007, he transitioned to the Director of Development at Truett Theological Seminary before his tenure at the BGCT. Additionally, Dr. Hardage has served as an interim pastor in several Baptist churches throughout his ministry, including Columbus Avenue Baptist Church in Waco, Park Lane Drive Baptist Church, First Baptist Church Huntsville, First Baptist Church Bryan, First Baptist Church Waxahachie, and First Baptist Church Richardson. This year, he began serving as an interim pastor at the First Baptist Church in Lubbock. Dr. Hardage is married to Kathleen, former President of the Texas Ministers Wives Association and a retired teacher. They have two children: John, an attorney in Dallas, and Rebekah, who works at GuideStone Financial Resources. They also have two granddaughters, Anne Marie and Molly. Dr. David Hardage is receiving an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Dallas Baptist University in tribute to his lifelong dedication to serving the Baptist community in Texas and worldwide. We are thankful for the incredible ways the Lord has worked through Dr. Hardage's life.