Central Methodist University will soon celebrate hundreds of its most recent graduates across multiple campuses and online learning, starting with the Spring Commencement ceremony for Fayette on May 9. The event will take place at 1 p.m. in Puckett Fieldhouse and feature 1983 graduate Terry L. Henderson as the commencement speaker.

The current vice chairman for the CMU board of trustees, Henderson worked at Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America for 30-plus years in various executive positions, retiring as a general manager of administration, supporting both Toyota Motor Manufacturing in Troy, Mo., and Toyota Motor Manufacturing in Jackson, Tenn. He started his career with Toyota's subsidiary, Bodine Aluminum, in 1992 when they began operations in Troy. Henderson completed rotations at Toyota’s vehicle assembly plant in Princeton, Ind. as general manager for human resources in safety and security and at Toyota’s North American headquarters in Plano, Texas, as general manager of human resources business advisors, supporting all twelve North American manufacturing facilities.

Henderson holds a BA in political science from Central and a master’s in administration from Lindenwood University. Throughout his career, he has served his community in various board leadership positions for the Troy Chamber of Commerce, Tri-County YMCA, Lincoln County Medical Center, and Mercy Health Foundation-Lincoln. He currently serves on boards for the Lincoln County Industrial Development Authority, Gateway Alliance Against Human Trafficking, and the Lincoln County YMCA Exploratory Committee. He also serves on the finance committee for St. Stephen UMC of Troy.

Henderson’s address and the whole of the Fayette graduation ceremony will be livestreamed for those unable to attend on the Central Methodist University YouTube page.

In addition to the Fayette commencement, CMU will be celebrating graduation at the Park Hills location on May 16 at 11 a.m.