THE INAUGURATION OF DR. DOLPHUS E. HENRY
MARCH 30, 2001
2:00 PM
ALPINE ARENA, IN THE NISWONGER COMMONS
GREENEVILLE, TN

Board of Trustees Chairman Stan Welty (left) places the Medallion around the neck of President Henry, officially signifying his appointment as president.

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. -- A new chapter in the history of Tennessee's oldest college was officially opened on the afternoon of March 30 with the inauguration of Dr. Dolphus E. Henry III, the 26th president of Tusculum College.

Accepting the college's presidential medallion from Stanley R. Welty, chairman of the board of trustees, Dr. Henry described to the Alpine Arena crowd his sense of honor and humility at being given the job of leading a historic and innovative institution into a new century.

"I accept the Tusculum College medallion and the responsibilities that it symbolizes. I do so with humility, seriousness and pride," Dr. Henry said in his inaugural response.

Declaring that one does not reach such a milestone without the help of many others, he thanked his wife, Judy, whom he described as "the love of my life, my confidant and, at times, my harshest critic," and his and Judy's daughter, Jessica, who had come to Tusculum from her home in Connecticut to see her father inaugurated. Jessica is "the focus of our pride ... both a daughter and our closest friend," Dr. Henry said.

Henry also welcomed his parents, Dolph and Betty Henry, from Radford, Va., and numerous friends, relatives, and colleagues of himself and his wife who were in attendance.

He also gave special recognition to three former Tusculum presidents in attendance: Dr. Douglas G. Trout, who was president from 1965 to 1968; Dr. Robert Knott, who was president from 1989 to 1999; and Thomas G. Garland, who was interim president between Knott's administration and the June, 2000 beginning of Dr. Henry's administration.

Stating that "inaugurations are celebrations of institutions, not of individuals," Dr. Henry drew an analogy between the beginning of a new presidency and the opening of a new "chapter" in the life of a college.

He described his initial reactions to Tusculum College and its people at the time he was still working with the Presidential Search Committee. The more he learned, the more he "felt a growing assurance that my interest in Tusculum College was not misplaced ... these were impressive people, people with a vision for this college that was contagious. I met faculty, staff and trustees who were dedicated to finding a president who's personality, interests, and leadership style were a match with their college."

Dr Henry went on: "I began to gain a vision of what Tusculum College could be five, ten, twenty years down the road. I found myself dreaming, hoping, and planning. And the more I did, the more I knew I wanted the privilege of helping to write the next chapter of Tusculum's story. And now, here we are."

Tusculum's newest "chapter" will include at least three main themes, Dr. Henry said: "Tusculum's sense of community, its approach to thinking strategically, and growth in Tusculum's enrollment."

He declared: "I am determined that the 26th chapter of Tusculum's story will be that of a close-knit community of caring individuals who, with grace toward one another, collectively embody the spirit of making a difference."

The Tusculum community will not be limited by the college's physical boundaries, he said. "The reach of our arms will be wide. We will embrace the rich asset of collaboration - joining in partnership with sister colleges, neighborhood businesses and service agencies."

Strategic planning will be a key to Tusculum's direction over the next several years, the president said. "This new chapter of Tusculum College's story will also be a record of achievements. And those achievements will be directly linked to our keen strategic sense of direction," Dr. Henry noted.

He said that Tusculum will be "distinguished as a place of innovation where there are clear institutional expectations of student learning, assessment of our progress as a college in achieving that level of learning and continual refinement of our programs and services to achieve an even higher level."

Tusculum also will grow, he said. "We will grow because we will do the things that are necessary. We will grow because we will stay rooted in the soil of our rich heritage while also being nourished by the rising sun of the future. We will grow in a natural way, because we will continue to work to make Tusculum the kind of college students want to attend," Dr. Henry stated.

Tusculum's growth and development will extend to its Graduate and Professional Studies programs as well, Dr. Henry said.

"We will consolidate and expand our programs for working adults in the Knoxville metropolitan area into a campus presence that will be recognized throughout the region. It will reflect a program that can transform a hesitant adult learner with potential into a Bachelor's or Master's level graduate whose contributions are limitless," Dr. Henry predicted.

He concluded: "I stand before you committed to joining with you to make this new chapter of the Tusculum College story one of the best ... much of what I have laid before you reflects more of a journey than of a specific destination. That journey begins now! I challenge each student, each faculty and staff member, and every alumni and friend of Tusculum College to individually contribute, to help write this chapter collectively."

Prior to Dr. Henry's speech, an inaugural address was given by Dr. William Turner, a private consultant to higher education. Prior to becoming a consultant, his extensive professional experience included being dean of admissions at Michigan State University.

Turner praised Tusculum's heritage, its history of innovation and progress, and introduced Dr. Henry based on personal interviews with those who known him best, including his mother.

Turner had been introduced by Elizabeth A. Heiser, vice president for enrollment management at Capital University, one of the universities with which Dr. Henry was once affiliated.

Also addressing the assembly just prior to the investiture was Welty, who spoke of the college's appreciation for the Henrys, and the fact that "when this (inaugural) service is over, our real service begins."

Representatives of various constituencies of the college brought greetings to the president. Donal J. Sexton, Jr. professor of history and faculty moderator, spoke on behalf of the faculty. Joanna I. White, executive accountant and Tusculum's longest-term staff member with 42 years of service, brought greetings from the staff.

Greeting the president on behalf of Tusculum's current students was Student Government Association President Carmen D. Brown.

Margaret Gaut, president of the college's Alumni Association, greeted Dr. Henry on behalf of alumni. Dr. Henry's pastor, the Rev. Daniel Donaldson, pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Greeneville, brought greetings on behalf of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Tusculum College is the oldest coeducational institution in the nation affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

As a representative of the community at large, R. Stan Puckett, president of Greene County Bank, brought the community's best wishes to the president.

The first speaker of the day was Dr. Suzanne Hine, vice president and dean of the Graduate and Professional Studies division of Tusculum College.

Organist Jim Winfree, bagpiper Jon Shell, and the combined choirs of Tusculum College and First Presbyterian Church of Greeneville provided music for the ceremonies.

After the inaugural, a reception took place in the Chalmers Conference Center of the Niswonger Commons building. Providing food for the reception was Sodexho Marriott, the company that operates the cafeteria at Tusculum College.

Dr. Henry, a native of Radford, Va., was appointed Tusculum College's president by a unanimous vote of the college's board of trustees in March of 2000, and took office on June 1. He came to the college from Macon, Ga., where he had served as vice president for enrollment management at Mercer University.

He brought to Tusculum nearly three decades of experience in higher education, with a strong emphasis on enrollment and strategic planning.