Delegates from across the globe and faculty members from just across campus gathered in Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium on Wednesday for the inauguration of Ohio University's 21st president.
Although President Duane Nellis has been in office since June, Wednesday marked his official investiture — a ceremonial tradition during which the president receives the symbols of office and is welcomed by university faculty.
“In a world of social media, fake news and alternative facts, where more and more people are questioning the importance of a college degree, I feel called to defend higher education and its role in upholding our democracy,” Nellis said. “When the history of this era is written, I think we will all be remembered by how we responded when our central mission … was dismissed as simply a waste of money.”
Kamlesh Lulla, a NASA chief scientist and friend of Nellis for the past 35 years, delivered the keynote address. He praised Nellis for his accomplishments in research and leadership.
“You have, in Dr. Nellis, a leader who has not only scholarship experience, but experience in leadership and administration to lead this great institute to even higher achievements,” Lulla said. “Not only for this generation of learners, but also for future generations who will shape the destiny of not only the great state of Ohio, but our nation.”
Nellis invoked the words of OU’s third president, Robert Wilson, in his own inaugural address, and said Wilson “understood well” the responsibility that rests on the president’s shoulders.
“In 1824, he said that this job requires ‘extensive learning and daily watchfulness and it must unavoidably involve me in perplexing toil,’” Nellis said. “Having been a university president before, I know he is right. But rest assured — I am up for the daily perplexing toil.”
After OU Board of Trustees Chair Janetta King and Board Vice Chair David Scholl conferred Nellis with the medallion of office, President Emeritus Charles Ping presented him with the university’s charter.
“Holding this charter identifies you as the steward of a remarkable history and the architect of (the university’s) future.” Ping, who was the university’s 18th president, said.
During his address, Nellis outlined four central priorities he plans to focus on during his time in office. He said he identified those priorities during conversations with students, faculty and staff.
In outlining his first priority for the university to become a “national leader” in diversity, Nellis announced plans to elevate the job of vice provost for diversity and inclusion, a position currently held by Jason Pina, who also serves as vice president for Student Affairs, to vice president for diversity and inclusion. The university will soon begin a nationwide search to find “the right person” to fill the position.
Nellis also announced plans to create a “difficult dialogues” series to address contemporary issues and establish a task force to begin developing a university-wide honors program that would complement the Honors Tutorial College.
Prior to his appointment as OU’s president, Nellis served as president at Texas Tech University and the University of Idaho, as well as senior vice president and provost at Kansas State University. After announcing his resignation from the Texas Tech presidency, Nellis was selected as one of four finalists in the race to replace former President Roderick McDavis.
Now that Nellis and his wife, Ruthie, have settled into their new home in Athens, he expressed hopes to elevate the university’s status as a national research institution — hopes he plans to accomplish as a “visible leader” both on campus and on a global scale.
“I can’t help but feel a sense of urgency,” Nellis said. “We have to get this right, no matter what the challenges we encounter … we have an obligation to future generations. The new world of Ohio University starts here.”
