Dr. Richard Jackson, Howard Payne University alumnus and interim pastor of First Baptist Church of San Angelo, addressed new and returning HPU students, faculty and staff during University Convocation on Wednesday. University Convocation marks the first chapel service of the 2012-13 academic year, and faculty and various administrators donned academic regalia for the service.

Dr. Jackson earned the Bachelor of Arts degree from HPU and the Master of Divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. He has served as pastor at churches in Bangs, May, Bluff Dale, Cleburne and Sulphur Springs. Dr. Jackson also served the North Phoenix Baptist Church for more than 25 years prior to his retirement. During his time in Phoenix, he led his church to grow from fewer than 500 members to 22,000 members. Dr. Jackson served on HPU’s Board of Trustees from 2001 to 2004.

Additional Convocation program participants included Dr. Bill Ellis, president; Dr. W. Mark Tew, provost and chief academic officer; Dr. Celeste Church, associate professor of music; Dr. Gregory Church, associate professor of music; Wendy Grooms, associate professor of math; Dr. Nancy Jo Humfeld, professor of theatre; Dr. Allen Reed, professor of music; Dr. Daresa Voss, professor of education; Dr. Elizabeth Wallace, faculty assembly president and professor of music; and Jeremy Bartley, Student Government Association president.