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¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ's board of trustees approved new faculty and gave final approval to a $109 million operating budget during the board's regular spring meeting April 14.

On a historic day when the board of trustees approved more than $50 million in capital projects and set in place a presidential transition process, other approved actions will have immediate effect on Alabama's largest private university.

Nine new faculty members were approved, including a new international studies coordinator. Marigene Chamberlain of Nashville, Tenn., will coordinate the University's multiple study abroad programs and be instructor of Spanish.

Other new faculty members are Alyssa A. DiRusso, assistant professor of law; Lyle W. Dorsett, Billy Graham Professor of Evangelism in ¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ's Beeson Divinity School; Ryan W. Galloway, assistant professor of communication studies; Tatyana A. Karaman, assistant professor of political science; David L. Loudon, professor of marketing; Marcia L. McCormick, assistant professor of law; Nina E. McLain, assistant professor of nurse anesthesia; and Barry M. Robinson, assistant professor of history.

Trustees also approved promotions for 14 faculty members and granted tenure to 11 faculty members.

In an earlier meeting, trustees had given preliminary approval to the university's budget for the 2005-06 fiscal year, but gave final approval to the $109 million budget at the April 14 meeting. The budget is a 3.5 percent increase over the 2004-05 operating budget and includes a 5 percent increase in tuition. ¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ 65 percent of ¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ's 2005-06 operating budget will be generated by tuition revenue, according to Clayton Fogg, ¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ's director of finance. Contributions from the Alabama Baptist State Convention make up about 5 percent of the budget.

The university's planetarium was named in honor of Boyd and Sara Christenberry of Montgomery. Christenberry is a retired vice president of ALFA Insurance Co. and is a life trustee and former chairman of ¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ's trustee board. The Christenberrys are active members of Montgomery's First Baptist Church and have provided financial support for several ¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ programs and projects.

Two new trustees were elected to fill unexpired terms. Joan Williams of Birmingham was elected to fill the unexpired term of her late husband, Tom. Williams is a member of Mountain Brook Baptist Church in Birmingham. Ronald DeVane of Birmingham also was elected to fill a vacancy. DeVane is the mid-South regional chief executive officer for SouthTrust/Wachovia Bank and a member of Shades Mountain Baptist Church.

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