University of Mobile President Lonnie Burnett will retire at the end of the 2023-2024 academic year. His last day will be May 30, 2024.
A graduate of Mobile College (which changed its name to the University of Mobile in 1993), Burnett has spent 45 years working in education, including the last 20 at the university where he has served as a professor of history, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and, for the last five years, president.
“It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve my alma mater in this role,” said Burnett. “The people I have had the good fortune to work with, as well as the exceptional students I had the privilege to teach in my time here, have made this a wonderful experience.”
In making the announcement, Burnett said when he took on the role of president he had several goals including providing a quality academic, spiritual and social experience for students; ensuring financial stability; increasing faculty and staff salaries; maintaining positive relations with Alabama Baptists; improving facilities and implementing new academic programs.
“Dr. Burnett has brought vision and clarity to the mission of the University of Mobile while adding strength and stability up and down the organization. I know I speak for the entire board when I say the university has been served extremely well by his time as our president,” said Terry Harbin, chairman of UM Board of Trustees.
During his last year, Burnett plans to focus on completing the university’s SACSCOC 10-year reaffirmation process and launching the university’s new “Experience the Difference” campaign, which will celebrate the culture of mentoring and quality academics.
Harbin said a transition team will be appointed to represent the interests of university faculty, staff and students and announced at the upcoming board meeting in October.
