FHU announces board of trustee member, alumnus and philanthropist Jay Dryden as spring 2025 commencement speaker

HENDERSON, Tenn. — Freed-Hardeman University will hold its Spring 2025 commencement ceremony at 10 a.m., Saturday, May 17, in Dryden Auditorium. Delivering the keynote address will be Jay Dryden, a university alumnus, board of trustee member and philanthropist.

In March, FHU celebrated the reopening of its renovated auditorium, now named David Thomas Dryden Auditorium in honor of Dryden’s great-grandfather. The renovation project, completed in phases, was made possible through contributions from alumni and friends of the university, including the Dryden family.

“Jay embodies the values of excellence, integrity and service that we hope to instill in every FHU graduate,” President David R. Shannon said. “His commitment to mentoring and leadership has had a meaningful impact on both our campus and his broader community.”

In addition to his service on the FHU Board of Trustees, Dryden also serves on the board of the Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville. Through his firm, he has mentored multiple interns from FHU and currently employs several alumni. Dryden has supported student-focused initiatives, including the Genesis Scholarship and the Dryden Hustle Award. The Genesis Scholarship assists students who are the first in their families to attend a Christian university, while the Hustle Award recognizes entrepreneurial-minded juniors and seniors.

Dryden is a Certified Financial Planner® and co-founder of Vector Wealth Strategies in Huntsville, Alabama. Since launching the firm in 2014, he and his team have focused on helping clients align their finances with their values, including extensive philanthropic planning. Vector has provided over $1.75 million in corporate support to community organizations and has helped clients collectively give nearly $100 million through philanthropic planning.

Jay and his wife, Hilde, have maintained strong ties to the university since their time as students. They live in Huntsville with their two children, Axl and Lorelai, and their cat, Kylo.

The mission of Freed-Hardeman University is to help students develop their God-given talents for His glory by empowering them with an education that integrates Christian faith, scholarship and service. With locations in Henderson and Memphis, FHU offers associate, bachelor’s, master’s, specialist and doctoral degrees. More information is available at fhu.edu.

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