SUMMER ENDORSEMENTS FOR TEACHERS START MAY 13th!

Expand your opportunities. Advance your career. Get SET this summer with summer endorsements for teachers.

Arrow

GU makes history with inauguration of President Suzanne Allison Davis

Published: November 08, 2021

It was a day to remember in the life of Greenville University. On Friday, October 29, the institution celebrated the formal inauguration of Suzanne Allison Davis, the first female president in its 129-year history.

For the inauguration, the Crum Recreational Center was transformed into a room fitting of a formal ceremony, resplendent with bright orange roses. Family, friends, alumni, faculty, students, and members of the community filled the room.

One alumna, 97-year-old Mary (Short) Spencer from the class of 1945 travelled all the way from Arizona to experience the inauguration of her alma maters first female president.

GU makes history with inauguration of President Suzanne Allison Davis

GUs womens volleyball team donned shirts made for the occasion with a silhouette of President Daviss signature ponytail.

Sounds of Charles MeKealians Hero, performed by a brass quintet, filled the air as the processional led by Dr. Brian Hartley, dean of faculty and chief academic officer, commenced the ceremony. Delegates representing public and private institutions near and far, emeriti faculty, current faculty and administrators, and the board of trustees of Greenville University walked in a single file line.

Kathleen Turpin, Greenville University board president presided over the ceremony. GU students opened the ceremony with a spoken word presentation entitled Our President, written by junior Moriah Marquis. The eloquent and powerful poem outlined the characteristics the students see in their president: Brave. Passion. Chosen. Champion. Leader.

Former president V. James Mannoia offered a prayer on behalf of all former presidents of the institution.

Speakers throughout the ceremony expounded upon Daviss own life principles:

  • With many advisors, plans succeed (Proverbs 15:22): the wisdom that the counsel of many is always preferable to ones own ideas, and that it is in the fellowship of believers that truth is found.
  • Seed must fall on good soil (Matthew 13:23): The truth from the gospels that we must be fertile ground. We cant let the sin that so easily entangles reign supreme in our personal nor our collective life as an institution.
  • And finally, Serve dont be served: The best things in life come when we look past our own noses and serve others ahead of ourselves. As an institution, we desire to live that out and teach our students to live it out as well.

These principles were addressed by the Reverend David Hawkins, Interim Chaplain at Greenville University and Pastor of Living the Word Church in Collinsville; Ed McMillan, former president and CEO of Purina and Daviss professional mentor; and Natilyn Hepburn-Beaty and Malvin Hubbard, former students of President Davis when she served as Dean of the Briner School of Business at GU.

GU makes history with inauguration of President Suzanne Allison DavisPhoto by Dave Bell

Following the presentation of the presidential medallion, President Davis took to the podium with a promise.

I promise to work hard on behalf of the institution and this city, never forgetting the people whose blood, sweat, and tears has brought us to this point and those who labor in the trenches every day.

I promise to speak truth always and often, as I often do already in straight talks weekly.

I promise to pray fervently for our students, our employees, our alumni and donors, our leaders.

I promise and ask of you to join me in the three principles that the Lord has guided me on and weve shared here with you today.

Davis reflected on the times and place in which the institution finds itself, with many trials and hardships, yet our collective story of GU uniquely shines brightly! Perhaps never before has there been a need for us to embrace our calling and our mission to prepare young women and men to live lives of character and service. In an age of either/or, we dare to continue to proclaim the gospel message of both/and, via the media. In a time of divisiveness and hostility, we lay claim to the apostle Pauls charge to the Corinthians to be ambassadors and reconcilers. With the fears of COVID and whatever a post-COVID environment looks like, we find hope and strength in the gospel message.

I intend to never forget our past, to build upon it, but to not be afraid to lean into the future and its challenges. Of course, we face daunting demographics and rapid change but we have such strong, good bones that are lasting and relevant for today.

The ceremony closed with GUs band Wahda (Arabic for unity) made up entirely of international students leading the audience in The Blessing in English, Hindi, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Led by its newly inaugurated president, the audience rose to its feet as a blessing was proclaimed over Greenville University and its generations to come.

Following a reception for all in attendance, Greenville University held a homecoming and inauguration parade. The newly inaugurated president herself closed the parade on her own horse to the cheers of those in attendance. Festivities went into the evening with a block party in the downtown square, entertainment at the SMART Center, the GU Choir performing at Whitlock, and fireworks lighting up the sky over the city and the campus.

GU makes history with inauguration of President Suzanne Allison Davis

Ready for your next steps?