Carson-Newman College President J. Randall O'Brien Wins Award

Randall O'Brien

Baylor University’s Alumni Association recently handed one of its top awards to Randall O’Brien, president of Carson-Newman College.

A 1975 Mississippi College graduate and McComb native, O’Brien was a longtime Baylor administrator and teacher before becoming president of Carson-Newman in Jefferson City, Tennessee in 2009. During his career, he’s also served as a pastor, missionary and author.

In late January, during ceremonies on the Waco, Texas campus, O’Brien was named the recipient of the George W. Truett Distinguished Church Service Award.

The honor recognizes people connected with Baylor who exemplify the life and career of the late church leader George W. Truett and reflect the meaning of the university’s official motto, “Pro Ecclesia Pro Texana.”

O’Brien served as a professor and administrator in various roles at Baylor for 17 years before becoming Carson-Newman’s 22nd president. During his time at Baylor, he served as an interim pastor at 15 Baptist churches in Texas.

From 2005-2008, O’Brien was Baylor’s provost, the school’s highest academic officer. He was responsible for Baylor’s 11 schools and colleges and more than two dozen centers and institutes.

After completing high school in the Mississippi, he volunteered to serve in Vietnam, devoting two years of service to his country in the 101^st Airborne Division. He earned several honors including the Bronze Star and the United States Air Medal before returning home to enroll at Baptist-affiliated Mississippi College.

Mississippi College leaders applaud the latest award for O’Brien.

“Since his days as a student at Mississippi College, Randall O’Brien has been hard at work advancing the cause of Christ and Christian higher education,” said Ron Howard, MC’s vice president for academic affairs and a Carson-Newman alumnus. “The Truett award is truly a most deserved tribute for this outstanding pastor and Christian educator.”

O’Brien also earned a master’s degree in sacred theology from Yale Divinity School, and a master’s of divinity and doctorate in theology, both from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

His wife, Kay, is a 1975 Mississippi College graduate who’s taught on the faculty of Baylor’s School of Social Work.

Former Texas Gov. Mark White, a 1962 Baylor graduate and 1965 law graduate, served as master of ceremonies at the Baylor Alumni Association’s Hall of Fame awards program. A total of 19 awards went to alumni and friends of Baylor on January 21.