After serving as the nineteenth president of Oklahoma City University for ten months, and already seeing one inaugural delay due to Covid-19 mitigation needs, President Evans has been officially inaugurated. The investiture ceremony occurred Thursday, April 7, from 10:30-11:30 a.m. in the Bishop Angie W. Smith Chapel. Faculty, staff, alumnus, and students of OCU attended to show their support and welcome Evans as he officially accepted this role and the challenges it brings.
The ceremony began with the Kiowa Women Color guard presenting flags, followed by international students of OCU presenting international flags. Paul Gebb, the faculty marshal, led the academic procession performance. Kate Morton, senior music and music theater student in the Wanda L. Bass School of Music, sang the National Anthem.
Reverend Elizabeth Horton-Ware led both the opening and closing invocations. Speakers soon began offering welcomes from groups they served to represent, and to offer calls to service and challenges to Evans.
Ried Powell, current student body president, began his speech saying OCU is a beautiful place for learning but the OCU education “is not complete without a robust dialogue and discussions with those who have differing opinions.” Powell said such challenging dialogues teach us “to listen first and to speak second.”
Powell said “[an OCU education] is an investment in our futures [which is] contributed to by family, friends, staff, faculty, trustees, admissions, alumni, and of course, the university president.” Powell challenged the president to be mindful of this investment and to open challenging dialogue on campus which will open new opportunities for success to future students. Powell welcomed President Evans on behalf of the student body at OCU.
After the student body’s representative welcome, the staff and faculty’s representative speakers welcomed Evans and challenged him to accept the responsibility of impacting students alongside staff and faculty.
Councilman James Cooper, elected representative of Ward 2 in Oklahoma City and alumna of OCU, welcomed Evans and said he was “glad to know [Evans] understands it is not only [his] responsibility to educate students with academic knowledge, but to challenge them to be a part of their community as active citizens, committed to making a difference and elevating those less fortunate.”
Councilman Cooper said he looks forward to collaboration with President Evans and positively impacting residents of Ward 2. Councilman Cooper challenged Evans with building partnerships with surrounding communities and neighborhoods, which will in turn elevate students of OCU.
Carri Hicks, state senator of Oklahoma and OCU alumna, next welcomed Evans on behalf of elected officials and citizens of the state. Hicks said colleges and universities in Oklahoma “must strive to provide excellence, and opportunity to all Oklahomans while building strong reputations across the nation and around the world.”
Hicks went on to say OCU’s mission to teach students to create, lead, and serve speaks to that goal. Senator Hicks challenged Evans “Take to heart the responsibility you have, not only to your students at Oklahoma City University, but also the responsibility you have to use your vice and your position to advocate for students everywhere.” Hicks continued to say President Evans’ role in this position and as an educator requires him to “always seek to facilitate the transformation of knowledge to wisdom.”
Next, the mayor of Oklahoma City David Holt welcomed President Evans on behalf of the city, saying “Oklahoma City is proud to have this university bear its name.” Holt challenged Evans to build upon partnerships between the university and the city.
The investiture ceremony continued with the presidential medallion and the academic mace, both symbols of presidential status and duties for ceremonial purposes, being bestowed upon Evans. Former president Martha Berger bestowed the medallion upon Evans, and interim provost Helen Godem bestowed the mace.
The current vice chairman of the OCU Board of Trustees, Gary Homsey, acknowledged and reaffirmed the role of president to Evans, concluding this confirmation with “May God’s wisdom be your guide.”
Evans spoke, beginning with a message thanking all in attendance, listing each group and thanking them individually. Next, Evans joked that he has been “driving without a driver’s license for the last ten months,” and that now he will need to “pay attention to the street signs and responsibilities of an invested president.”
Evans said being in the chapel was very special, and explained the architecture of the stained glass which allows light to sign through the portion of wall that correlates with the seasonal stained glass.
Evans expressed his appreciation for OCU students, calling them “the energy that drives the enterprise.” Evans said “Students are a vital part of who we are,” and said that he has seen how involved students are with so many areas and teams on campus. Evans said he has seen that students “love the engagement and the opportunity to be a part of this organization.”
Evans spoke about some of his initiatives, such as launching online programs and assisting the homeless population in the surrounding community. Evans said he takes responsibility for the homeless population in our surrounding community and intends to do right by that population.
Evans concluded his speech by saying, “I look forward to what lies ahead for all of us and for this amazing university – older than the state of Oklahoma. Thank you again, and go stars!”
Following the investiture ceremony, the Great Hall hosted students, staff, and faculty for an all campus celebration with a broad array of food options from different regions. The sea of OCU blue and smiling faces was a reflection of Evans’ welcome to campus.
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