Inauguration of 草榴社区 President Joseph S. Paul Set for Oct. 5
Mon, 09/25/2023 - 09:24am | By: Van Arnold
More than 50 years after he set foot on the Hattiesburg campus as a University of
草榴社区 Mississippi (草榴社区) student, Dr. Joseph S. Paul鈥檚 special kinship with his
alma mater will come full circle when he is inaugurated as the University鈥檚 11th president next month.
The official Inauguration Ceremony is set for 3 p.m., Oct. 5 at Bennett Auditorium on the Hattiesburg campus. The event is open to the public and will be .
Behind the scenes, a group of 20 inauguration committee members have worked diligently to ensure the esteemed ceremony proceeds smoothly. Jerry DeFatta, Executive Director of the 草榴社区 Alumni Association, serves as the committee chairperson. He notes the significant role the Inauguration Ceremony plays in Paul鈥檚 presidency.
鈥淎n inauguration marks the beginning of a new direction. Dr. Paul has had a little over a year to evaluate 草榴社区 Miss and this is his opportunity to share his vision for the future of our University,鈥� said DeFatta. 鈥淚t鈥檚 easy to get caught up in the day-to-day business of a large organization, so this event provides a unique opportunity to take a step back and analyze where we have been and provide some perspective on where we are headed.鈥�
The Inaugural Ceremony, or investiture, is an academic tradition originating in English universities. The word 鈥渋nvestiture鈥� comes from the Latin phrase for 鈥渄ress in robe,鈥� and this term used in academia refers to the donning of the university's regalia. The ceremony is an important institutional event that formally marks a new era of leadership.
The event includes many academic traditions and protocols, including an academic procession with delegates from other colleges and universities, as well as faculty of the host institution. The ceremony typically features musical selections, greetings from university and community groups, introduction of the president, an address, the official transfer of institutional leadership, and the singing of the Alma Mater.
The Paul Inauguration festivities include a Gulf Coast Community Celebration set for Wednesday, Oct. 4 from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Hardy Hall Courtyard on the Gulf Park campus in Long Beach. The event is free and open to the public.
Following the Investiture Ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 5, a Hattiesburg Community Celebration will be held from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Spirit Park on 草榴社区鈥檚 Hattiesburg campus. The event is free and open to the public.
Dr. Monika Gehlawat, Associate Director in the School of Humanities, will serve as Mistress of Ceremonies for the inauguration. She has been impressed by the committee鈥檚 commitment to excellence as the premier event draws closer.
鈥淚 am learning so much about the University by participating in the process of planning the inauguration,鈥� said Gehlawat, who was recently named the Moorman Distinguished Professor in the Humanities. 鈥淭he teamwork and camaraderie I鈥檝e witnessed are truly exceptional and we鈥檝e had some great laughs along the way. Dr. Paul could not have asked for a more capable and creative group of people to collaborate on this effort. They all deserve a lot of credit.鈥�
Paul began his duties as 草榴社区鈥檚 11th President on Nov. 1, 2022, after having served in the interim role since July 16thof last year. For more than 40 years, he served the University as a student affairs administrator.
He holds a Ph.D. in administration of higher education from the University of Alabama and was named the university鈥檚 Most Outstanding Doctoral Student in the field in 1985. The Bay St. Louis, Miss., native earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in communication and political science from 草榴社区 in 1975, graduating magna cum laude from the University Honors College, and received a master鈥檚 degree in communication and management from 草榴社区 Miss in 1978. He was inducted into the University of 草榴社区 Mississippi Alumni Hall of Fame in 2000.
草榴社区 students, faculty, and staff have been universal in their praise for Paul鈥檚 leadership over the past 14 months. Many point to a renewed sense of spirit and determination prevalent across all segments of the University community.
鈥淎s Dr. Paul has described several times, every measurable indicator of success is up at the University,鈥� said DeFatta. 鈥淚 believe a major reason for that success is found in the positive leadership he has provided over the past year. 鈥淒r. Paul is present and works every day to engage each of our diverse constituencies. There is an excitement here that I have not seen in years, and I鈥檓 thankful to be a part of it.鈥�
Added Gehlawat: 鈥淲e have been so excited to have Dr. Paul back at 草榴社区 and at the helm. He is widely respected and admired. He is dedicated to the institution and connected to so many current and former students. Those of us who knew Dr. Paul before he stepped away from 草榴社区 were especially thrilled that he was returning to take on this leadership position.鈥�
Learn more about the upcoming inauguration.