Dr. Carolyn Ringer Lepre officially becomes SU’s 10th President
“A presidential inauguration serves as a milestone event in the life of an academic institution, as it embarks upon the next chapter in its story,” said Salisbury University President Carolyn Ringer Lepre to the hundreds of supporters gathered for her festive investiture.
“This is an opportunity to honor the University’s heritage and bring our Sea Gull family together to celebrate and reaffirm our sense of pride in our students, alumni, faculty, staff and our community.”
Remarkably, this is only the 10th time in a nearly 100-year history that Salisbury has welcomed a new president.
It was a beautiful, blue sky morning in May when the SU community celebrated its new leader. In the red-brick Square in the heart of campus, a stage of maroon and gold flowers showcased the banners of each academic division. President Lepre herself joined staff in putting finishing touches on seats for the platform party.
Inside Blackwell Hall, the excitement was palpable. Visitors from colleges and universities across Maryland and the nation gathered in their regalia. SU deans and faculty chatted with colleagues in anticipation. The President greeted alumni and other special guests.
The ceremony began with a festive processional, led in with music from SU’s Brass Ensemble. Over 50 SU graduates participated, proudly carrying flags representing some 45 class years, dating as far back as the 1950s and up to this year’s Class of 2023.
“I can say with great confidence that Salisbury University is in wonderful hands under Dr. Lepre’s tutelage,” said Dr. Lili Leonard ’09, M’11, former SU Alumni Association Board president and one of a dozen speakers in the ceremony. “As one of nearly 60,000 proud SU alumni, I can’t wait to see where she leads us.”
Faculty Senate President Jennifer Martin called Lepre’s “Salisbury Seven” priorities, articulated during her State of the University address, a “bold, aspirational and inspirational vision.” Staff Senate President Joe Benyish called Lepre the “right person” for SU, adding: “In order for our university to grow, we must be willing to embrace the opportunities and challenges brought about by change.”
The heart of this institution will propel us forward”.
I believe, deep down in my soul, that
higher education IS the path to helping
solve the world’s biggest problems.”
Graduate Student Council President Nicholas Plummer noted the President’s embrace of SU’s tradition of shared governance, while Student Government Association President Wyatt Parks called Lepre a “president of the students.” Adjunct Faculty Caucus President Tim Robinson ’93 told her, “After seeing what was accomplished over the last century, I look forward to seeing how you position us for the next one.”
During her inaugural address, the President spoke about SU’s past, its present and a future that is just beginning. For almost 100 years, she said, SU has represented what great learning is: Challenge. Progress. Life-changing outcomes.
“Higher education has never been more important than it is right now,” she continued. “I believe, deep down in my soul, that higher education is the path to helping solve the world’s biggest problems, and that each of us is called on to do what we can to pave the way for the next generation of learners. Starting today, we turn our collective power, grit, dedication and energy to moving forward with excellence.”
During the ceremony, Lepre was officially charged as President by University System of Maryland Chancellor Jay Perman and was presented a ceremonial medallion by Board of Regents Chair Linda Gooden. There to support her were past SU Presidents Janet Dudley-Eshbach (2000-18) and Charles Wight (2018-22).
“When you’ve got two former presidents on stage as a new one is inaugurated, it says something pretty special about this university, this community, this family,” Perman said. “It says it’s hard to stay away from this place. Every time I visit, I understand why.”
Dr. Janet Dudley-Eshbach and Dr. Charles Wight.
Among the ceremony’s other speakers were Maryland Secretary of Housing and Community Development Jake Day, City of Salisbury Mayor Jack Heath and Board of Regents Member Robert Rauch, who led the search committee that selected Lepre. A musical interlude featured a performance of a traditional spiritual “Keep Yo’ Hands on the Plow,” selected by SU music professor Dr. John Wesley Wright, in the spirit of moving forward.
Get an SU education and you’ll be fine,” sang alumna Annabell Midley ’21, as the performers, including Wright, SU artist-in-residence Calista Day and fellow alumnus and American Idol finalist Jeremiah “Jay” Copeland ’20, adapted the lyrics for the SU occasion.
In quiet moments in The Square after the ceremony, Lepre took photos with her husband, Todd, their two daughters, Sarah and Ainsley, her father, and other family members who had traveled to campus to support her. Later, she answered questions from media, who wanted to hear her take firsthand on what “all this means” for SU.
As Lepre articulated in her remarks, her primary goals for SU are to “achieve excellence by investing in our people; strengthening our commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity and belonging; and delivering a rigorous, student focused academic program taught by world-class educators, defining what distinction means for a regional comprehensive institution.” “We will continue to serve the needs of the Eastern Shore, Maryland and the nation, and most importantly, do so by remaining firmly committed to placing our students at the heart of everything we do,” she added.
SU already has been moving forward with perseverance: this fall, the University welcomes a new group of incoming students, which will be the most diverse in campus history, with 32% coming from underrepresented backgrounds.
“Our collective power and energy will boldly propel our institution forward with excellence,” Lepre said. “We will work to disrupt the status quo, build pride in place, embody what it means to care for one another and facilitate innovation so we can leave SU a better place than ever before. The heart of this institution will propel us forward.”
Dr. Naeemah Clark, J. Earl Danieley Distinguished Professor at Elon University and a longtime colleague of the President’s, echoed the power in the collective “we” at SU.
“Your President has the wisdom, bravery and optimism to uphold the values of this campus,” she said. “Let us commit to being her team that believes in the power of higher education to inspire critical thinking, realize personal and professional goals, and cultivate active citizens.”
