Tigerville, SC (September 23, 2022) During the week of Sept. 19, the North Greenville community has honored 91President Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr., for his five years of service as the university’s president. Many university organizations have celebrated Dr. and Mrs. Fant with special events throughout the week. Information about Dr. Fant’s career may be found on the Office of the President webpage. If you would like to share your comments, click here.
Dear Dr. Fant,
Congratulations Dr. Fant and First Lady Lisa Fant on your five-year anniversary at 91. The influence of 91 is being felt statewide and is significant for my State Senate District 10, which includes Greenwood, Abbeville, Saluda, and McCormick counties. We all hope you and the First Lady will lead the university for many more years to come.
Thanks for your leadership and instruction of Judea Christian principles and values to our Family of Believers.
Through you and your team, we are able to spread the word of our Lord Jesus Christ and to add more souls to our Christian faith. We heartily support you and than you for sharing Dr. Tony Beam with our South Carolina Legislative Family Caucus.
Գ,
Senator Billy J. Garrett, Jr.
SC Senate District 10
Dear Dr. Fant,
I wanted to wish you a Happy 5th Anniversary as President of 91. I regret being unable to attend the celebration to honor you, but I have staff meeting and another meeting after that. However, it has been a joy to get to know you some and have you in SC serving and helping prepare our 91students the last five year. Thank you for your leadership during this time. Your spiritual influence and love for the students is a great encouragement to them as well as those of us around the state. May God continue to bless your ministry there for many years to come, my friend.
Partnering Together,
Paul McKee
Director of Missions, Spartanburg County Baptist Network, Inc.
Dr. and Mrs. Fant have brought an erudition and graciousness to 91that is most fitting to its mission as a Christian higher education institution. They have “raised the bar” in academics, physical plant maintenance, and the intentional development of a Christ-like culture at the university. They are both committed to Christ and committed to making 91the best possible version of itself that it can be, and for those things I am eternally grateful. We are very blessed to have them lead us during this season.
Fondly,
Dr. H. Paul Thompson, Jr.
Dean, College of Humanities and Sciences
Christian higher education is a unique business and takes a special kind of leadership. Dr. Fant is such a leader; having both an amazing skill set and the right character for leading 91in this phase of its journey. Three things immediately come to mind.
- First and foremost, Dr. Fant’s devotion to the Lord is both an encouragement and a palpable source of wisdom and strength that is evident in his leadership style.
- He always inspires those around him to be and do better.
- He has a solid, inviting connection with and genuinely cares for all our students, faculty and staff.
I look forward to seeing what the Lord will do through Dr. Fant over the next 5 years.
From an anonymous staff member
From the first time I met Dr. Fant, I knew that he would be a strong and effective leader for NGU. The first time I met Mrs. Fant, I immediately understood that she would be a supportive and compassionate co-laborer in his ministry to the faculty and students. The first time I met the senior leaders whom Dr. Fant recruited to NGU, such as Rich & Linda Grimm, I knew he was assembling a talented and experienced team to affect meaningful and necessary change. Although I am not an alum of this university, I am energized about its future specifically because of this leadership team. I have served as a leader in the miliary and private practice for 40 years. I know leadership when I see it … and I see it in Gene Fant, Jr. The Fants’ and their team are a demonstration of God’s provision for this great university.
Russell P. (Rip) Parks
Founding Principal, Parks Consult
Gene and Lisa, congratulations on your successful five years of ministry in leading 91. Gene, you have provided strong, consistent leadership which has brought excellence to all phases of 91. Thank you for holding the course and strengthening 91 as a biblically based and Christ centered University. You are well aware of the issues which small Christian universities may be facing in the future. I am grateful that you are the leader who can take 91 successfully forward and through whatever challenges the University may face.
You and Lisa make a great team, and we are so thankful God brought you to us.
Ron and Missy Edwards
What a blessing Dr. and Mrs. Fant have been to North Greenville. Growth in Buildings, Student degree programs, spiritual blessings for the students and the financial health of the school. I pray for their continued health and spiritual guidance of the school I have never forgotten. I have seen good days and difficult days of the past. The Fants continue to fulfill the dream of Dr. Donnan for a strong and growing school of faith. I pray for many more years of service for this wonderful couple.
Richard H. Capps
Class of 1965
Dr. and Mrs. Fant, thank you so much for your godly service to 91 and to the Kingdom of God. Your coming to 91was an answer to prayer and a watershed moment for higher education. Your vision of transformational leaders impacting church and society is contagious and coming to pass. Now and in the years to come “may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times in every way” (2 Thess. 3:16). Congratulations on five amazing years!
Dr. Frankie J. Melton, Jr.
Faculty
Dear Dr. Fant,
Congratulations on a job very well done in these last five years! It is obvious to all that you are God’s man for God‘s great 91.
We are all very proud of your humble yet dynamic godly leadership. So glad you are at the helm!
To God be the glory,
Jim Oliver
Bethlehem Baptist Church, Roebuck, SC
Dear Dr. Fant,
On behalf of Greer City Council and the employees and residents of the City of Greer, I want to take a moment to offer sincere congratulations on your five-year anniversary as president of 91. We join the entire 91Family in celebrating the outstanding leadership you have brought to the University and to the Upstate.
I fondly recall addressing 91graduates at the 2017 Commencement Exercises and wanted them to fully appreciate two words that had marked their individual journeys: dedication and commitment. A Zig Ziglar quotation seemed appropriate that day: “If you are committed, you will do whatever it takes. If you are merely interested, you will do whatever is convenient.”
As those words settled on the graduates and their families in the Melvin and Dollie Younts Stadium, you were preparing to embark on another journey in your distinguished career – as the eighth president of NGU. Those words resonate strongly five years later as I look at the remarkable leadership you are providing at NGU.
Some claim that a modern-day Renaissance Man is difficult to find. I would suggest that they look no further than your scholarly pursuits, classroom talents, administrative skills and the Christian spirit with which you warmly embrace others. Those are the traits that the 91Board was seeking in their new president in 2017 and are the reason the 91Family is celebrating your five-year anniversary in 2022.
Above all, it is your dedication and commitment to the institution and its alumni, faculty, staff and students that is marking your journey. As mayor of the City of Greer, I am delighted to have a university presence in the T. Walter Brashier Graduate School that is positively impacting so many lives. As an honorary alumnus of 91, I hold great pride in recognizing that your steady hand is on the helm and the future is brighter than ever for this great university.
Congratulations again on this landmark occasion. If I may ever be of assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Warmest regards,
Rick Danner, Mayor
City of Greer, SC
Dear Dr. Fant, Jr.,
I would like to take this opportunity to wish you a very Happy 5thAnniversary as President at 91, Tigerville Campus! I know you and your wife, Lisa live across the street from NGU, what better place to live and work!
We cannot thank you enough for all the hard work and effort you have undertaken in these 5 years as President to help make North Greenville not only one of the best universities in South Carolina but in the United States!
Under your leadership, 91 continues to prosper. I look forward to the exciting future and what else is to come! Thank you again, for all you have done and congratulations on your 5thAnniversary at 91! We are lucky to have you as our President! May God continue to bless you and all the outstanding students and faculty at 91. Go Crusaders!
Sincerely,
Representative Garry R. Smith
SC House District 27
Dear Dr. Fant,
Congratulations on your milestone achievement on providing superior leadership to 91 and to the students seeking higher educational degrees from the University. Your efforts and expertise in Higher Education and your experience in developing new and innovative leadership developmental programs for the University will strengthen our generational leadership for years to come in our state.
91 has experienced extraordinary growth under your tenure. You have developed new partnerships with the Mary Black School of Nursing and thereby are providing creative and necessary dual degree opportunities in the much-need field of nursing in our state. Campus enhancement to student life such as the renovations of the residence halls for students, and the additions to the Ray and Bea Dillard Field will continue to draw and attract students seeking a quality Christian educational experience.
Chairman Bill Tyler reported at your hiring, “This is an historic time in the life of North Greenville, taking a Christ-centered institution with a very strong foundation and moving it forward into the future in order to equip students to go into the world and impact the Kingdom.”
What an excellent legacy you have provided to all Christians and to the future Christian leaders in the state of South Carolina. You should be very proud of your accomplishments and your continued service to the University. May God bless you for many years to come and bless 91 and the citizens of this state with your continued service.
Because I care,
Representative Rita Allison
SC House District 36
Dear Dr. Fant,
Congratulations on your fifth anniversary as the President of 91. You accepted this position at a time when there was great unrest at the University and through your leadership the University not only weathered the storm but also has flourished.
You have established a good working relationship with the Board and with the students and faculty. You have also provided a vision for the future and are guiding the University toward this goal.
91 has a recognized position with the other institutions of higher learning in the Upstate. We appreciate your leadership of the University and look forward to many more productive years.
Sincerely yours,
Lynn W. Ballard
Greenville County Council District 26
My dear sweet friends,
I am SO THANKFUL that I was able to share five years of your wonderful leadership and friendship. You are both an absolute joy, and I always am PROUD whenever anyone tells me that they have met you or heard you speak. Oh, how good the Lord was to send you our way. Thank you so much for being my friend!
I love you both,
Ruth McWhite
Dear President Fant,
I wanted to congratulate you on your Five-Year Anniversary with 91. Your intrinsic vision and years of experience at 91are true testaments to its success. The University is very fortunate to have you at the helm, bringing about positive change and more importantly, your leadership in Christian Higher Education at the very core. 91has a deep history in discipleship, and you dedicate yourself to seeing this spark students’ passions both inside and outside the classroom.
I am proud to represent Greenville Co. and I am privileged to bestow upon you such honorable recognitions. Please reach out to me when I can be of assistance. I wish you much continued success in your endeavors.
Kind regards,
Representative Ashley Trantham
SC House District 28
Thank you so much for your investment in our students and community over the last five years. When you first came to 91you made great efforts to explain your views on connection of community partners.We agreed we wanted Travelers Rest to feel invested in the lives of NGU’s students and vice versa. We’ve been doing just that in partnership ever since! Here’s to the next 5 years of leading with grace and kindness!
Brandy Amidon, Mayor
City of Travelers Rest, SC
Dr. Fant, I was in the first graduating class you handed diplomas to at graduation, and it has been an honor to see how the university has grown in every way since you have stepped in as president. Thank you for your faithful service to students, to Tigerville, and most importantly to Christ. May the next 5 years be even better!
J.G. Faulk
Minister to Students and College/Young Adults, Greer First Baptist Church
Dr. and Mrs. Fant,
Thank you for your strong commitment to following Christ and leading 91 with excellence. We appreciate the endless ways that you serve our students, our faculty and staff, and our community. Your impact on 91has been tremendous and I’m excited to see what our future holds. Thank you for a wonderful 5 years!
Katie Lynn Marshall
Staff
Dr. and Mrs. Fant,
Wow! We have seen such positive growth under your leadership during the last five years. So glad you were chosen to be our leader. Thank you both for your positive contributions to our 91community, a place where Christ really does make the difference.
May God continue to bless you as you lead us.
Ann Aust
Faculty
Dear Dr. and Mrs. Fant,
Congratulations on completing five years as President and First Lady of 91. It is such a joy to serve with you in this special place. I never thought I would one day have the blessing of working for Gene Fant and serving at this institution that I long loved from afar. Thanks for allowing me to have a front-row seat to witness how the Lord is using both of you to shape this university for his glory as we cultivate graduates who are equipped to serve as transformational leaders for church and society.
Sincerely in Christ,
Dr. Nathan Finn
Faculty and Staff
Dear Dr Fant and Mrs. Fant,
Thank you so much for the opportunity you provide to students at 91. Your dedication to Christ, as well as, to excel as a school and business benefits so many. We are so grateful for your heart and passion for our school. Congratulations on 5 years!!
Emilie Zahra Porter
Student
Thank you so much for how you have served our university. We really appreciate everything you have done and the way you have been an example to us of humble leadership, pursuing knowledge and wisdom, and Christlikeness.
Laura Elizabeth Cervantez
Student
Dr. & Mrs. Fant,
From Shonette and our entire family, thank you both for serving the Lord at North Greenville. I am grateful to serve alongside you both. We pray for the Lord’s blessing on you and your family as you continue to work collectively in striving to do as Paul encouraged in 1 Corinthians 1:9, ESV, “For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.”
May God help us to win in every area at NGU. I look forward to seeing what this year of acceleration brings for us. Congratulations again; I can’t wait to move into our many years of celebration phase.
Lamont & Shonette Sullivan
Staff
Hello to two of the most wonderful people in the world. One of the many wonderful qualities that stand out most about this couple is their hospitality. They have the gift of making everyone feel like they are part of their family and are so welcoming. Lisa’s cooking is fantastic and Dr. Fant has such a warm and inviting spirit and kind eyes that would make anyone feel comfortable and loved. Thanks a million for making me feel like an important person not only at this university but in your lives as well.
Marnie Daniel
Staff
Dr. Fant,
Congratulations on the completion of your first five years as President at 91. Your tireless work is a testament to God’s faithfulness and your passionate desire to see future generations follow Him.
I am encouraged to hear about the great things that God is accomplishing through you at 91. Your service is an encouragement to me as I seek to follow God’s calling as your Senator.
Please accept my best wishes on this milestone and let me know if there is anything I can ever do for you.
Sincerely,
U.S. Senator Tim Scott
United States Senate
Congratulations Dr. Fant on your Five years with NGU! We are lucky to be led by such a Godly and knowledgeable man!
Allison Simon
Faculty
Dr. Gene Fant and Mrs. Lisa Fant have been a tremendous blessing to 91during the last five years. Dr. Fant’s dynamic leadership has been instrumental in making this institution grow at a rapid pace by leaps and bounds. May the good Lord bless Dr. Fant with many more years of leadership at NGU.
Shurajit Gopal
Faculty
I have worked in a variety of Christian and secular organizations during my career but have never felt the support that I know exists at 91. I attribute this to the leadership of Dr. Fant, and truly appreciate the grace-filled wisdom and compassion we have in him. It is a joy to serve alongside the Fants, and I am very grateful for their vision and leadership.
Martin R. Jones
Faculty
Dr. Fant,
Congratulations on your five-year milestone. Time has passed fast. The campus looks great, and we appreciate your commitment to remain debt free and to assist the students to be able to graduate with little or no debt. Thank you for your leadership in providing North Greenville students the education needed to take the good news of Jesus Christ into the world and change lives for eternity. It is our only hope. We pray for God’s continued blessings as you follow His will.
“May the Lord bless and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you His favor and give you His peace. Numbers 6:24-26
Elaine and Gary King
Dear Gene and Lisa,
Steven and I are so thankful you are at NGU. Both James and Abby were (and still are) blessed by you…..from teaching them how to put air in a tire 😁 to entrusting them with your dog and offering to house them during covid with us so far away and delivering packages, rides to the airport, going to all of the theater productions, having us over and also out for a meal, and providing housing for us and our dear ones when we’ve needed it. Thank you for so many things!
Beyond that, we are just thankful for the way you lead and serve and love on your staff and the students. 91is a special place and you two are a huge part of that!
Blessings to both of you!
Steven and Liz Gilbert
Dear Dr. Fant,
On behalf of the South Carolina House of Representatives, I would like to congratulate you on your five-year anniversary as the president of 91!
During the last five years of your reign as the eighth president, you have impacted the lives of many students, faculty, and staff. I want to extend a “thank you” for the many wonderful contributions you have made to the university. Your hard work, diligence, and guidance are an inspiration to many.
I wish you all the best and continued success for the years to come. I am confident that 91 will continue to thrive under your wise leadership and look forward to seeing all that you will continue to do to impact the Kingdom.
Sincerely,
Representative John R. McCravy III
SC House District 13
To the Fants,
Thank you for your leadership, compassion, and friendship over the last five years! I’m looking forward to seeing how God uses both of you as we continue to grow as a university that has Him at the center of it all.
Mick Daniel
Staff
We are so glad that God has brought you to 91for such a time as this. We appreciate your heart for what God is doing here and the vision of service you both live out. Also, the sense of humor and spirit of joy is infectious and brings a brightness to all of us. God bless you both and we look forward to many years together in service and ministry.
Dr. Andy and JennieStevens
Faculty
What a gift to the University you two have been! To pack up your life and help strengthen a school in need of direction and vision and healing was not easy. Many uncertainties — professionally and personally. Our staff and faculty and students are immeasurably better because of your sacrifices. Leadership is not glorious. Indeed, it is a service. You have demonstrated over the last five years what it means to be servant of all … and for that you are great. You have modeled the Christ-like life of love and mercy and truth. Thank you for directing our ship to the shores of truth and goodness and beauty through the discipline of the Christian liberal arts tradition. You are a gift to so many of us and we thank God for bringing you to us.
Dr. Matthew Wireman
Faculty
Dr. and Mrs. Fant,
It is hard to believe that 5 years have passed since you became part of our community! What a five years it has been!! I am so thankful for you and the way you have navigated the transition and have moved the University I love ahead!! I know the pandemic has made the past couple of years tough on everyone, but now that we are on the other side (I hope!). I hope your vision for 91will come to full fruition! I cannot wait to see what the future holds. I want you to know that Angie and I are here to support you in any way possible! Thank you for your leadership and I look forward to many great years ahead under your guidance.
Mrs. Fant we are very grateful for you and the graceful way you carry out your representation of NGU! I know Angie enjoys working with you on various events! Thank you.
It has been great how Angie and I have been able to share our family stories and have them embraced by y’all!
Thank you for your leadership, guidance, and friendship!
Billy Watson
Staff
Dr. and Mrs. Fant
Congratulations on your five years with NGU! We appreciate you and the impact you have made in the short time you have been with us. Thank you for the opportunity to serve alongside you and for your love for Christ and NGU!
LaVerne Howell
Staff
I have been an 91employee for over 7 years and was here during the Interim period. While Dr. Pannell did a fantastic job, we prayed fervently for a Godly leader who was biblically sound to be with us permanently.
God answered our prayers. We received the perfect person appointed by God. God placed Dr. Fant here for “such a time as this.” He is a wonderful representative of our university in every way.
When listening to him preach he delivers a polished, easy to understand message which encapsulates his listeners to want to hear and learn more.
I am so grateful for him and Mrs. Fant and look forward to many more years of their leadership here at NGU.
May God continue to bless you both,
Tina Boyle
Staff
Truly grateful for God-fearing administration. Your love for faculty is palpable and so very much appreciated!
Many Thanks,
Dr. Christine Haltiwanger
Faculty
Dr. and Mrs. Fant,
The moment you set foot on campus, we collectively let out a sigh of relief. Even with the amazing leaders standing in the gap, God sending you to us broke the time of limbo. That horrible place where nothing is quite right. We are so blessed to have you to guide us and fill our university with warmth and charm. Your family completes our 91family.
Thank you so much,
Stephanie Snook
Staff
Dr. and Mrs. Fant are a blessing to the 91community in countless ways. The care and commitment they demonstrate to the students, faculty and staff is an inspiration to us all. Linda and I cherish them both and are privileged to call them colleagues and friends. We congratulate them on five outstanding years and look forward to seeing what the Lord does in and through them in the years to come.
Rich Grimm
Staff
Dr. and Mrs. Fant,
I am so grateful the Lord brought you to NGU. It is hard to believe it has been five years already. You have guided us with wisdom through some very difficult days. We don’t know what the future holds, but we do know Who holds the future. I pray God’s richest blessings on you and your family as we follow the Lord in his kingdom work.
Dr. Curtis K. Horn, Jr.
Faculty
Samuel Brengle, an early leader in the Salvation Army, said “Spiritual leadership is not won by promotion, but by prayers and tears. It is attained by much heart-searching and humbling before God; by self-surrender, a courageous sacrifice of every idol, a bold uncompromising, and uncomplaining embracing of the cross, and by an eternal, unfaltering looking unto Jesus crucified. This is a great price, but it must be unflinchingly paid by him who would be a real spiritual leader of men, a leader whose power is recognized and felt in heaven, on earth and in hell.”
During my years of service at 91under the leadership of Dr. Fant, I have observed in his life and ministry the qualities of true spiritual leadership as described by Brengle. His gifts of encouragement, his faithful preaching of God’s truth, and his wisdom in administration have been used of God not only to make a great university even greater but also to promote spiritual maturity in those who serve with him. None of this would be possible without the support and partnership in ministry of a godly wife. Mrs. Fant is a wonderful example of such a lady. We are blessed at 91to have the Fants as our leaders and friends.
Dr. Bill Cashion
Faculty
Dr. and Mrs. Fant:
We are grateful for your time, leadership, vision, and support of our students, faculty, and staff.
Chad Lister
Staff
91Men’s Basketball Team and Coaches
We appreciate how you both model what it means to walk out your faith with grace and love. Thank you for your commitment to excellence and truly caring about the students, faculty, and staff at NGU. We are blessed to have you here!
Dr. Constance Wright
Faculty
Dr. and Mrs. Fant,
The 91 community is blessed to have you lead us these past five years, and we look forward to many more years with you as our President and First Lady. It is a privilege to work with you every single day.
Angie Watson
Staff
Dr. and Mrs. Fant,
The last 5 years have been a blessing under your leadership. The accomplishments, progress and improvements in different areas on our campus areamazing. Under your guidance North Greenville will continue to progress and lives will be changed as our students are prepared to be transformational leaders for church and society.
Thank You!
Jan McDonald
Staff
Dear President Fant,
The spirit and trajectory of 91has become remarkably fresh and invigorating with you at the helm! I am honored to serve under your leadership. Thank you for leading us from a posture of surrender to our great God. And thank you for all you do to ensure that we stay true to our mission and core values. You are in my prayers.
Steve Bielby
Staff
Dr. and Mrs. Fant,
Thank you both for giving of yourselves these last five years. 91 is blessed to have you both here!
With deep appreciation,
Vicki Hatchell
Staff
Dear Dr. and Mrs. Fant,
I just want to thank you for coming to 91. You have been faithful and steadfast as you have led us forward. The focus of our university is exactly what we need, and you have represented us all so well to the world outside of our campus.
Mrs. Fant, you have been an amazing leader in various activities on campus and especially Auxilio. We are grateful for your ministry among us and standing as a great example of a godly woman. I have enjoyed working at 91for 20 years. I am retiring this year. May the Lord continue to lead and guide us in this uncertain time.
Dr. Jill B. Branyon
Faculty
Pres. Fant’s clear vision for the integration of faith and learning makes him a leader among Christian college Presidents. His willingness to empower those in his administration, on his faculty, and on his staff mark him as a leader among business executives. His writings, lectures, and organizational involvement mark him as a leader among Christian intellectuals. Finally, his genial nature, genuine kindness, and infectious enthusiasm show that he’s just a good guy! It is an honor to serve 91 under the leadership of Pres. and Mrs. Fant!
Dr. Web Drake
Dean, College of Communication and Fine Arts
Dr. Fant has been a tremendous leader since coming to NGU. The baseball program is very grateful for his support, and we feel our National Championship would not have happened without Dr. Fant’s love for our program, players, and coaches. We are excited to see where Dr. Fant leads our University over the next many years. Thank you Dr. Fant for all that you have done and will continue to do!
Swords Up! For The Ville!
Landon Powell
Staff
Thank you for loving NGU.
Micah and Kate Sepko
Staff
Words cannot adequately express my appreciation to Dr. and Mrs. Fant for their leadership, personable approach, scholarly excellence, and love and care to 91students, to faculty, to our world-wide Crusader community, and to even me, a long-time adjunct professor.
One of the many attributes I love is though you both are abundantly blessed with many talents and spiritual gifts, you know my name, acknowledge my existence-you are the real deal.
Many blessings,
Beckie (Dr. Rebecca B Stiegel)
Faculty
Dr. and Mrs. Fant,
I am glad you came to NGU. I have seen a lot of exciting changes these past five years. I pray 91will continue to be rooted in the gospel of Jesus Christ and to train the next generation of young adults to be a bold witness wherever God leads them. Happy Anniversary!!!!
Tina Jimmerson
Staff
Dr. Fant and Lisa,
Congratulations on your 5-year Anniversary at NGU! A lot of amazing things have happened here during your season of assignment. We appreciate you and the impact you have made on this university. Thank you for the opportunity to serve with you. Here’s to the next 5 years!! Enjoy.
Coach Kelvin Long
Staff
President and Mrs. Fant,
I cannot believe it has been five years since a group gathered in my office in White Hall to watch your family disembark from that Black SUV so that a new era in the life of 91could begin. Saying that your arrival was an answer to prayer would be an understatement of the highest degree. In a time of more turmoil than any of us understood, the Lord brought you to this place for a purpose and has empowered you with the wisdom that you have needed to navigate every situation that has arisen with a steady hand and the firm conviction that God has placed us here to cultivate transformational leaders for church and society and would provide what was necessary to accomplish that task. My prayer is that the Lord would sustain and strengthen you both for the exciting journey that is before us and that five years from now we would be able to celebrate five more years of God doing more than we could have ever asked or imagined.
Until Christ and His Kingdom Come,
Dr. Donny Mathis
Faculty
Dear Dr. Fant,
I am deeply grateful for your leadership. You are both a scholar and a friend. May God richly bless you in the years to come. We do not take your tenure for granted. You are a gift to Christian higher education and to the 91family. I count it a high honor to serve alongside you!
Sincerely,
Joshua Gilmore
Staff
Dr. Fant, you provide us with the perfect blend of spiritual and intellectual leadership wrapped in lighthearted approachability.
Working through the pandemic challenges grew my appreciation of your heart for people, smarts for leading through complexity and vulnerability to invite support from colleagues.
I’m grateful for your steadfast commitment to facilitate my flourishing as a professional and household leader—thank you!
Sincerely,
Michael J. White
Staff
Dr. and Mrs. Fant,
Thank you for the dedication you have shown and the time you have sacrificed in leading 91over the last five years. We are praying God’s blessings over you and your family as you continue to lead the University in the days ahead. “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8
Vlad and Michelle Sabou
Staff
Dr. Fant,
What a wild ride the last few years have been! Thank you for your Godly leadership through some of the most difficult times. You have a heart for Christ and people and it shows in everything you do. I do believe that 91 is truly a shining light in a dark world and the best it yet to come.
Mrs. Fant,
I don’t know what it’s like to be a pastor, professor, or university president’s wife. I do know what it’s like to be a wife (43 years) and mother. That is our most difficult and blessed calling. Thank you for fulfilling those roles and continuing to be an influence in your home and our university.
Thank you,
Beth Houck
Staff
Dr. and Mrs. Fant,
I am thankful for your faithful service to the Lord and to 91these past five years. We are blessed to serve alongside both of you as we seek to be the place where Christ makes the difference. I continue to pray you may receive God’s wisdom and discernment to lead our beloved school for many years to come. Blessings!
Serving Jesus,
Dr. Jeff Rankin
Faculty
Dr. Fant:
From my first conversation with you in early 2018 through today, you have demonstrated amazing God-honoring integrity in your leadership and personal life. God’s timing is right, and when this great institution was in need of a leader with the right professional knowledge, the right leadership skills and the right personality to unite a wide array of stakeholders, you were ready to step into the role of President. Thank you for you for faithful service and your mission-focused leadership as we work to equip transformational leaders for church and society.
Marty O’Gwynn
Staff
Dear Gene,
It is with great honor that I write this letter honoring you on your five years of service as President of the 91. Your commitment to not only the students and staff, but also the state of South Carolina will be felt for years to come. As you continue moving 91 forward, I am confident you will have a positive impact on the next generation of students who will have the opportunity to grow and to become successful under your leadership.
Thank you for your pledge to 91 and the state of South Carolina. We wish you all the best as you continue to move forward in this role as President of 91.
All the best,
Senator Dwight Loftis
SC Senate District 6
Dear Dr. Fant:
I have to write letters all the time, and some of them are, quite frankly, difficult to construct. But this one will be one of the easiest as I join others in celebrating your five-year anniversary of ministry at 91.
There are so many things that I admire about you, your servant heart, and ministry at NGU. First and foremost, I love how I see the love of Christ in you. It’s all over you! Your demeanor and presence just says, “I love the Lord.” It is apparent in all that you do. What a great example not only to the students, but also to your faculty and staff. You set the bar high, and I love that. Your actions proclaim Christ and there is no higher calling.
I also love watching you love students. Seeing you run in the stadium as Fant’s Frenzie is so fun. You are making wonderful memories for the students. Your involvement speaks volumes to them about your love, and your respect for them. I was speaking at a church today and talked to 4 freshman at NGU. Their responses were the same, “I love it at North Greenville!” What a wonderful atmosphere is being enjoyed there. Obviously Holy Spirit feels the freedom to work! And I sense and observe that He is working! How exciting!
Dr. Fant, you will receive much more eloquent letters but you will not receive one that is more heartfelt or sincere than this one. I am so grateful that in the sovereignty of our God, He brought you and Lisa to NGU. You have built a team of Godly leaders that will no doubt take this school to the next level. I am so happy that my niece and her husband are graduates. They are transformational leaders, impacting students, and families. 91equipped them so well to love with the unconditional love of Christ. Thank you!
I appreciate our friendship, and partnership in ministry. You are so supportive of our crisis pregnancy ministry, and I appreciate it so much. You cheer us on! It means more than you know! That is another example of your community mindedness. You get outside the box! We are so blessed to have you as a leader!
Happy Anniversary my Friend! You are a gift to so many!
Blessings!
Dr. Alexia Newman
Dear Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr.
It is my honor to congratulate you on your five-year anniversary as President of 91. Your leadership and commitment to enhancing education at the University and in the Upstate is admirable and does not go unnoticed.
I wish you luck in your future endeavors with the University. If you should ever need assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office.
Blessings and Liberty,
Senator Jeff Duncan
SC Senate District 3
Dr. Fant,
I am so thankful for the work of 91in our state and especially for the many alumni, faculty, and students who serve the Lord at Brushy Creek. Everywhere I travel the good work of 91is spoken of with great pride. Your leadership at that institution is a blessing to many and to the work of the Lord. Thank you for leading 91so well. With much delight, I recommend your institution to many graduating seniors, knowing they will receive an excellent education and opportunity for spiritual development. May God continue to bless your faithful service.
Happy Anniversary,
Dr. Cory Horton
Brushy Creek Baptist Church, Taylors, SC
Dear Dr. and Mrs Fant,
Praise the Lord from whom all blessings flow! He certainly has blessed us with you two!
Thank you for you love and passion for NGU! Thank you for your tireless commitment to the Gospel and to our students and faculty and staff! What a difference you are making in Tigerville, Greenville County, South Carolina, our country and to the ends of the earth!
Praying you all will have strength, endurance, and encouragement for this grand adventure.
Thank you,
Sheila Dilleshaw
Staff
Dear Dr. Fant,
On behalf of the Greenville Baptist Association, I would like to offer heart-felt congratulations on five years of excellent service as president of 91. You came to us at a trying, yet strategic time in our history, and have provided steady, visionary leadership at a time when it was most needed. In a short period of time, you have transformed 91for the good, brought stability and direction and have exercised sound stewardship of this valuable institution. Truly you were brought to SC Baptists for such a time as this. Our association is grateful to you for all you have done. Under your leadership, our churches can be confident that our young men and women will receive an education built on a solid foundation of holy scripture and a commitment to excellence. 91truly is a place where Christ makes the difference. On a personal note, let me say again what I have said to you before. The more I am around you, the more I appreciate and respect you. You are a man of integrity and Christlike character, as well as of undeniable ability. You have done an outstanding job, but I believe we are just getting started. As you lead us into a future filled with uncertainty and change in a culture increasingly hostile to the gospel, we can be confident we have a steady hand at the till. Thank you for all you have done. God bless and lead you in all that is yet to come.
Till All May Know,
Al Phillips
Director, Greenville Baptist Association
Dear Dr. Fant,
I congratulate you on your 5th anniversary as president of 91. Through your focused leadership, 91is engaged in continual improvement of undergraduate and graduate academic programs. 91makes a positive difference in South Carolina with a Christ-focused approach that transforms careers and lives. I wish you the best and much continued success at NGU.
Sincerely,
Representative Jason Elliott
SC House District 22
Tigerville, SC (October 3, 2022) Award-winning singer and songwriter Jeff Deyo will lead a “Night of Worship” at 91 on Thursday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. in Turner Chapel.
Tigerville, SC (September 14, 2022) Greenville County Council honored recent 91 achievements with four proclamations during the council’s meeting last week.
“Dr. Fant has been a catalyst for what North Greenville has been able to do, and the University just brings so much to the table. It’s a family-oriented place where Christ makes the difference,” Dill said. “It’s not every day that you have these kinds of accomplishments at a university.”
Powell was recognized for his leadership during the North Greenville baseball team’s championship run. Since the season concluded, he has been named the NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year by the American Baseball Coaches Association and ATEC Sports.
Tigerville, SC (September 13, 2022) More than 40 91 faculty and staff members were recently honored for their years of service.
Tigerville, S.C. (September 12, 2022) 91 moved into the top third of institutions in the annual U.S. News & World Report ranking of “Best Regional Universities” in the South, the highest ranking it has held in the influential report.
Tigerville, SC – (September 6, 2022) 91 (NGU) recently celebrated its partnership with Palm Beach Atlantic University’s (PBA) Lloyd L. Gregory School of Pharmacy in West Palm Beach, Fla. University leaders gathered to mark the occasion with a public signing event on the Tigerville Campus.
Tigerville, SC (August 28, 2022) Dr. Melvin K. Younts, a long-time benefactor and five-term trustee of 91, died Saturday, August 27. He was 93. The noted philanthropist maintained a law practice in Fountain Inn and Greenville for several decades.
Tigerville, SC (August 23, 2022) A 168-year-old part of the Tigerville community was renamed earlier this month, honoring its historic role in the Greenville County community which is home to 91’s main campus.
Willie Wood and his three siblings, Bobby Wood, Helen Wood, and Laura Wood Messer attended the August 11 event. Laura Wood Messer, a 1967 North Greenville graduate, shared remarks on behalf of the family. She noted that their mother, Helen R. Wood, followed John T. Wood as postmaster, serving in that role for nearly 47 years.
Slingshot, an educational technology company based in Marion, IN, manages Wood’s General Store. The company coordinates textbook services for students at Christian universities across the country and provides campus store management. Slingshot began working with 91textbook services in the 2020-21 academic year and began managing the campus store this summer.
In describing the structure’s history and how its ownership would forge a long relationship with the university, Messer said Neves constructed the building “with wooden pegs holding most of the timbers together. That was 29 years before North Greenville high school/junior college/university even came into existence.