Dr. David S. Dockery plans to step down at president of Union University and become university chancellor no later than July 2014, he said.

“I am hopeful and prayerful for a good, smooth, joyful and positive transition,” Dockery said. “God has blessed the work of our hands and manifested his favor to this university time and time again during these past 17 years. I am confident that we will continue to see God’s grace made known to Union in the future.”

The executive committee of Union University’s Board of Trustees has appointed a presidential search. Members include

Norman Hill, chairman of Union’s Board of Trustees and executive director of Trumbull Labs in Memphis, and Danny Sinquefield, senior pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Bartlett.

The search process is expected to take about a year.

“David S. Dockery’s accomplishments at Union University are unsurpassed,” Hill said. “Although much of his work is visible in the form of buildings and numbers, his greater work is in the hearts and minds of the thousands of students and myriads of others that he and his administration have influenced through the years. He has had Union’s best interest at heart in everything he has done as president for the past 17 years.

“With this decision he is once again taking care of the institution by initiating a transition process at a time that he has deemed appropriate for the institution and his family. We praise God for David and Lanese Dockery and believe the Lord still has much to accomplish through this beloved couple at Union University.”

Under Dockery’s leadership, following 15 straight years of enrollment increase, Union has more than doubled in size, growing from a fall enrollment of 1,972 to 4,262 in 2012. Donors have increased from 1,600 to 6,000 annually. The budget has expanded from $18 million to more than $90 million per year. The university’s net assets have grown from less than $40 million to more than $110 million.

During that time, Union has added campuses in Germantown and the Olford Center in Memphis.

Read Dockery’s reflections on the 2008 tornado that hit Union’s campus and injured dozens.