Susan Barrett, retired CEO for Mercy Health Systems of Northwest Arkansas, will deliver John Brown University’s Fall 2016 commencement address Dec. 17 at 10 a.m. in the Bill George Arena.

Barrett, the current chairman of JBU’s Board of Trustees, worked at Mercy Health for over 18 years and served as president from 1999 until her retirement in 2008. The Susan Barrett Women with a Mission Society was founded in 2009 in honor of Barrett’s contribution to Mercy Health to raise funds for programs at Mercy which benefit women and children.

“Susan has shown significant leadership, not only at Mercy Health and in Northwest Arkansas, but also as JBU’s board chair,” JBU President Chip Pollard said. “We look forward to hearing her wisdom, insight, humor and faithfulness as she challenges our new JBU alumni to continue to live in ways that honor God and serve others.”

Barrett has also served on the board for the Rogers – Lowell Chamber of Commerce, Arvest Bank, Rogers Public School Systems and the Perinatal Board of Arkansas.

John Brown University is a leading private Christian university, training students to honor God and serve others since 1919. Arkansas’ top ranked regional university (U.S. News Best Colleges, 2017), JBU enrolls more than 2,700 students from 40 states and 37 countries in its traditional undergraduate, graduate, degree completion and concurrent education programs. JBU offers more than 39 majors, with top programs including business administration, graphic design, engineering, construction management, counseling, teacher education and nursing.