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During his transition from high school to college, Samuel Simpson found himself in a position common to a lot of freshmen. The first couple of months are usually the hardest, with new living dynamics, friendships and responsibilities.

Finding the right community of friends proved difficult for Simpson during those early days of his freshman year. He realized he just needed someone to talk to. That person happened to be 黑料论坛 President Samuel W. "Dub" Oliver.

Dr. Dub had given freshman students his cell phone number during new student orientation and told them to reach out if they ever needed guidance. Simpson did so, and Oliver replied with an invitation for Sam to come to his office.

"I think it's cool because most people would probably not invite you into their place," Simpson says. "Like, that's his office. Sure, that's part of the reason for an office, but also, it's your personal and private space...which is just insane and crazy. I love it."

They didn't talk about anything pressing. They simply had a conversation about life, which was exactly what Simpson was craving. Visiting the president in his office allowed Simpson to feed his need for community. Although Simpson didn't come to his office to talk about business, it was business to Dr. Dub.

This year marks Oliver's 10-year anniversary after he was elected as Union's 16th president on Feb. 10, 2014. Over that decade, his influence and commitment to the school has shown itself in many ways, ranging from the well-being of the physical campus to his immeasurable impact on students and faculty through friendships and mentorships.

Dr. Dub is known for being proactive on campus. Students often spot him at Union sports games and events wearing red and white just as much as any other student. Not only that, but he can be found anywhere students are found: Whether that's in the dining hall or the line to get coffee at Barefoots Joe, Dr. Dub is there making conversation and developing relationships with people. Oliver explained that he wants to be present across campus and encourages others to do the same.

"I want to be engaged in as much as possible," Dr. Dub says. "I want to be at baseball games, I want to be at fraternity and sorority events, theater plays, music events and academic lectures. I want to cheer on everything Union is doing, because it's good stuff."

This idea of "being present" is an absolute necessity to Dr. Dub. Not only is it a crucial part of the job, but he's doing his part in running the Union race.

"I'm the 16th president of Union," he says. "I like that because it reminds me that I wasn't the first, and I won't be the last. I have a stewardship responsibility."

He thumbed over his shoulder at a red track baton resting on one of the dozen bookshelves behind his office desk. "You can probably see over my shoulder, but there's a red baton," he says. "David Dockery, who was the 15th president, gave that to me on the day I was named president."

Oliver explained that the purpose of the baton is to symbolize the idea of continuing his role as a steward. As president, Dr. Dub is running the race that was started by 15 presidents before him. To him, the title "president" isn't just a name; it's a role directed by a mission. That mission has been passed down to Dr. Dub by the previous president of Union just as the last did to him.

"First, foremost and always, I want Union to be faithful as a Christ-centered institution," Oliver says. "And beyond that, I want us to ensure that we're living out our core values."

Dr. Dub said these core values — excellence-driven, Christ-centered, people-focused and future-directed — are what drive him to pour into the school and its students with such intentional care. Being personable and treating people with love and care is the way Oliver lives and fulfills his duty as a steward. It's being a friend to those who need one and reflecting the light of Christ through his position as Union's president.

"I don't want people to think of Union as me. I want them to think about it as Union," Oliver says. "And so, I'm not trying to build a platform for Dr. Dub. That's not the point of this. The point is to say, hey, here's Union. Union's pointing people to Christ, so if we can draw people to Union, they're going to be pointed to Christ, as opposed to any individual."

That's another key reason why Dr. Dub takes initiative to start conversations. He sees how some incoming students may feel isolated when transitioning to college. Most incoming freshmen are overwhelmed and feel underprepared when finding a community right away. On Move-in Day, Dr. Dub can be seen carrying boxes to dorm rooms. He's doing the heavy lifting so unfamiliar faces can feel welcome and cared for.

Beyond everyday conversations in the hall, or sitting with students during chapel, Oliver has mentored several students throughout their time at Union. Mary Helen (English) Holt is a 2022 Union graduate who has been heavily influenced by Dr. Dub's intentionality with students.

"When you're making an impact, you never realize when you're making the impact until after," Holt says. "I didn't realize the incredible impact that was being made upon me: the impact of Dr. Dub's leadership, the impact of how he cares for students."

Oliver's care for students is not limited to the having a personal connection with them. He goes above and beyond to give the best experience Union has to offer, all while pointing them toward Christ.

"I think the highest level of impact is seen just by his actions," Holt says. "I think you can tell that Dr. Dub has a heart for the Lord, has a heart for students, has a heart for college students, has a heart for that whole process, by watching the way that he lives his life. To me, that is the greatest impact, that he's leading by example."

Ashley Blair, associate professor of communication arts and chair of the department, has seen how Dr. Dub addresses issues behind the scenes. Before his arrival, some critical funding for faculty professional development had been removed from the budget. As chair of the Faculty Development Committee, she sent a letter to him asking that the lost funding be restored.

Oliver graciously received the request, and within the first semester of his presidency restored that funding to the budget. Blair said she and the rest of the committee felt heard, and they were touched by his intentionality in addressing a problem that wasn't entirely visible.

"One of the primary contributions to the wholistic legacy of Union is definitely financial," Blair says. "He has been very intentional in a time where higher education and Christian higher education is struggling with the number of students available and the costs. He has been very intentional about paying down debt and being fiscally responsible to ensure Union's financial viability and being able to offer Christ-centered education."

When Dan Griffin, vice president for enrollment management, began working at Union in 2015, the university was nearly $45 million in debt and suffered from significant cash flow issues. Not only has Dr. Dub slashed the long-term debt to just over $6 million, but he has also helped Union accumulate more than $19 million in the bank to aid the execution of the campus master plan and to prevent an environment that relies on borrowing money.

"That's him being a very good financial steward and making sure we live within our means," Griffin says. "In my nine years working with him, he doesn't cut corners financially."

Before 黑料论坛, Griffin had experience at three other universities under a total of eight college presidents. Now, having served nine years under Oliver's leadership, Griffin believes Dr. Dub particularly stands out.

"He understands every aspect; whether it's finances, enrollment, student life, academics; he just has a really good grasp of what's going on at the university," Griffin says. "Couple that with his time in the Word, and his ability to preach and his ability to build relationships, it would take a lot for me to leave Union."

Since Oliver took the role as university president, he has looked toward the future to build new buildings and open more opportunities for students. This was evident when The Logos, Union's 150,000-book library, was completed under Dr. Dub's leadership. It opened in 2015 and allows students to access important study resources and space to work.

He also capitalized on introducing more student common areas such as the coffee shop, Modero, to better the student community. Currently, a new academic building for the McAfee School of Business and the computer science and engineering departments is being constructed on the Great Lawn and will be the newest addition to the Union vision.

"We want to do that because I want students who follow to have the very best learning environment possible to pursue what God's calling them to do," Oliver said. "I don't want anything to be second-rate. I want it to be excellent. Because, we are also serving the Lord, and he deserves the very best."

The Union community isn't the only group that's constantly on Dr. Dub's radar. During his 10 years, Oliver has continued the Union tradition of Campus and Community Day, a day dedicated for students and faculty to dive into the Jackson community to work and beautify the city of Jackson without being paid. But Dr. Dub isn't one to send his students off while he toils away in his office. He is right there in the thick of it, sweating harder than anyone else with a smile on his face.

"He's not above anything," Holt says. "On Campus and Community Day, he's going to be in the middle of it. He's going to be picking up trash, he's going to be sitting alongside students in the highest of highs and also the lowest of lows."

Hayden Phillips is a senior at Union majoring in chemistry. He has known Dr. Dub longer than most students, as Phillips and Oliver have been fellow members at Englewood Baptist Church for years. Now, Phillips is on the difficult journey of learning to be a pastor. Dr. Dub has been discipling him and regularly meets with Phillips to mentor him in pastoral ministry.

"I don't think you have to know Dr. Dub super well in order to see the fruit of his wisdom and the fruit of how he leads and his heart behind that," Phillips says. "Even despite the friendship, seeing him as a mentor is still something a lot of people at Union can recognize and benefit from."

There is something to be said for Oliver's commitment to Union and its mission. After 10 years as president, Dr. Dub has touched the lives of thousands of students and faculty. Not only has he furthered the quality of life of the physical campus, but he has also furthered the development of students through his intentionality and care.

He has gone above and beyond what a university president's job requires because he doesn't see people as a number on a chart. Developing relationships isn't a checkmark on the schedule. He values "hanging out" with students as much as his faculty meetings — because to him, pouring into students is a part of the job, even if it isn't in the formal job description as president. Dr. Dub uses Union as the platform God has entrusted him so he can be a steward who points students toward the Lord.

"In addition to helping the university regain its financial footing, his legacy will also be helping students and faculty continue to flourish and grow in ways that are meaningful," Blair says, adding that service to "the church and society," as Union's mission says, will be part of that legacy.

By the end of his time at Union, Dr. Dub only wishes for one thing: "At the end of my career, that people would be able to say, 'He loved us well, and he led us well,"' Oliver says.