Honoring the past and heading toward the future: Ohio University celebrates the investiture of first female president, Dr. Lori Stewart Gonzalez
Murmurs filled the echoing chambers of the Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium and anticipation rose as the minutes wound down to the start of the day’s festivities. Returning alumni huddled together talking, laughing and catching up on the years since their last meetings. Students crouched in corners preparing their cameras for the upcoming ceremony. Gonzalez’s friends and family looked on with pride as the announcement came for everyone to find their seats so the procession could begin. The hubbub of voices hushed and a line of faculty members clad in academic regalia streamed in and took their places on and around the stage. The occasion for all the formality: the investiture of Ohio University’s first female president and its 23rd overall, Dr. Lori Stewart Gonzalez.
Preceding Gonzalez’s address, many faculty members, including a previous colleague and poet laureate, spoke of their admiration for her. These speakers called attention to her work ethic, dedication to community outreach, compassion, leadership abilities and more. Gonzalez’s enthusiasm for community engagement and plans to work with community partners were especially highlighted.
Dr. Douglas Craddock, the vice president of community engagement at the University of Louisville, was one of these speakers. He met President Gonzalez during her time at the University of Louisville as executive vice president and university provost. During his heartfelt introduction, Craddock said that Gonzalez, “feeds opportunity and starves problems.” He spoke highly of her commitment to her students, her advocacy for them and her backing of underfunded student success programs. Craddock said that she was part of a “student-facing office.” Craddock also attested to Gonzalez’s character outside of the office, citing her support of him when he was dealing with a personal loss, where he described her as a “true pillar of strength, but also compassion.”
At the conclusion of Dr. Craddock’s speech, President Gonzalez was read the rites of investiture and presented with the Seal of Office and Charter of Ohio U, after which she gave her presidential address. She began by thanking the previous presenters and all those who brought her to where she stood, especially her parents, who impressed on her at an early age the importance of education and dedicated their time to increasing opportunity in the Appalachian region–work that she has continued throughout her career.
As the first female president in Ohio U’s 219-year history, Gonzalez is making history herself but still emphasizes the importance of honoring the past. “An understanding of place begins with knowing where you’re from,” Gonzalez said as she discussed her roots as an Appalachian from Mt. Vernon, Ky. She stressed how her values aligned with those present at Ohio U, specifically the belief in the power of publicly-funded education.
“Understanding our history is to understand that we inherit a vision and purpose rooted in the power of both place and progress,” she said. Throughout the 20th century, Ohio U has made a good deal of progress, citing achievements such as opening five regional campuses, starting Ohio’s first osteopathic medical school, setting up the university’s first doctoral program, constructing 25 residence halls and quadrupling enrollment, among a multitude of other accolades and achievements. This year broke records, as the newly-arrived class of 2027 is the largest class in Ohio U’s history, and has the most first-generation students. She also drew attention to the university’s standing as an R1 school and its exceptional fine arts programs.
Despite the many causes of celebration, there are still challenges ahead. President Gonzalez acknowledged the issues facing higher education today, saying, “Our society’s moved away from the belief that education is for the common good.” However, she stayed true to Ohio U’s commitment to providing access to quality education and promised to fight to protect education throughout her time in office. As a part of this vow, Gonzalez announced the President’s Opportunity Promise, a new scholarship program that will be launched in fall 2024. The scholarship is aimed at Pell-eligible students in Athens County and will allow them to attend Ohio U tuition-free in hopes of increasing access to education.
After thunderous applause following her address, President Gonzalez’s reign was welcomed in by a rendition of the song “Our Place,” composed by her son, J. Clay Gonzalez, and performed by the Ohio University Brass and Ohio Winds. The afternoon wound down with the Marching 110 playing out the officials and bringing the new president onto College Green to continue the celebration with an outdoor reception–a joyful end to a symbolic day.
