NEWS & CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS

Tusculum College, the state’s oldest institution of higher education marked a milestone in its 217-year history on Friday, Oct. 8, with the inauguration of its 27^th and first female president, Dr. Nancy B. Moody.

Dr. Moody officially took the oath of office in a ceremony Friday afternoon that featured a variety of the different constituents of the college, including current students, faculty, staff, Board of Trustees, alumni and friends of the college.

“I stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before, as do you,” said Moody. “Collectively, we must continue to build on all that has come before, as well as strike new ground and lead this community to continued success.  We must as pioneers - prepare the way.”

She continued, “Tusculum College must continue to build degree programs; pursue new academic programs founded upon local, regional and national data and sound financial analysis; grow the endowment and use the earnings to help support operations of the college; continue to develop financial stability, particularly during the current economic times, which is the foundation for the future and allow the mission and strategic plan to guide us.”

Dr. Kenneth A. Bowman, chair of the Board of Trustees and a 1970 alumnus of the college, administered the oath of office and presented the presidential medallion, the symbol of the presidential office. The medallion was presented to Dr. Moody before an audience of approximately 600 attending the ceremony in the Pioneer Arena, inside the Niswonger Commons on campus.

Drawing on the theme for the ceremony, “A Tapestry of Pioneer Leadership,” which Dr. Moody noted “one of the most pervasive works of art throughout historical Europe and elsewhere, and were designed to tell a story.”

She added, “The beauty and intrigue of a tapestry is that it doesn’t reveal itself until all the threads are in place. It is not until each thread comes together, intertwines, overlaps and blends its own uniqueness into a new whole that the complete work of art becomes known.”

In her inaugural address, she likened all those who have come before, founders, benefactors, alumni, students and others who have influenced and impacted the college to threads of the tapestry.

“The tapestry of Tusculum College is one that reflects many pioneer leaders - those who ventured into the unknown, those who have innovated, those who have preceded all others, and those who have established themselves in previously barren environments or areas. I am proud to be part of the colorful, diverse and complex tapestry of Tusculum College that is evolving. We can only consider the dynamic future of this college through reflection of the various threads, how they are woven or blended together to form the whole through the influence of the past, the present, and even the future.” 

The history of the day was addressed in opening comments by Dr. Scott Niswonger, one of the college’s benefactors, a trustee of the college, and a 1987 alumnus who was also presented an honorary degree in 2006.

“Tusculum College, in its true pioneer spirit, has had a great deal of firsts, including its status as the first institution in Tennessee to have an African-American graduate and as the oldest co-educational institution associated with the Presbyterian Church,” Niswonger said. “Tusculum has a diverse and rich history. That tradition continues today as an institution that is progressive and willing to break new ground to achieve its mission. Today, the tradition of innovation continues.”

Representatives of various constituencies of the college brought greetings to the president.  Dr. Bowman spoke on behalf of the trustees, “Dr. Moody, it is with my full confidence in the Board of Trustees’ decision made more than a year ago, that I wish to once again extend our full support and influence toward supporting your vision for the future of Tusculum College.”

Dr. Robert Pollock, president of the college’s Alumni Association, spoke of the firm foundation his education from Tusculum provided in his life as he offered his congratulations to Dr. Moody and pledged the support of the alumni organization to her leadership.

Providing comments on behalf of the college’s faculty was Dr. Michelle S. Freeman, associate professor of business administration and faculty moderator who thanked Dr. Moody “for being a pioneer for our college and for all women as well.”

Michelle Arbogast, assistant bookstore manager and a 2009 graduate, represented her fellow staff members in her comments that asked Dr. Moody to look on her position as an “opportunity to serve, learn, influence, network, encourage and teach.”

Students were represented by Erika Witt, president of the Student Government Association. Witt told Dr. Moody that the students “look to your leadership with excitement and confidence.”

The college’s strong relationship with the church was reconfirmed by the Rev. Dr. Dan Donaldson, pastor of Tusculum’s mother church, First Presbyterian Church of Greeneville and a trustee.

Dr. Tom Garland, a trustee and former interim president of the college, brought a welcome from the community, encouraging Dr. Moody to continue her efforts to strengthen ties between the college and the region.

The ceremony featured an Inaugural Festival Choir of alumni, faculty and staff and community members accompanied by the college’s new concert band and organist Jim Winfree.

The formal processional, led by bagpiper Jon Shell, featured  alumni representatives from nearly all  graduating classes, beginning in the 1940s, as well as current students representing various campus organizations, delegates from more than 25 colleges and universities, a former Tusculum president, the college’s Board of Trustees and faculty members.

Dr. Moody was appointed president in February 2009 by the Board of Trustees and assumed her duties in April 2009. As president, Dr. Moody has helped lead the college through the reaffirmation of accreditation process with the Southern Association of colleges and schools and guided the college towards greater financial stability in a time of economic uncertainty. During her administration, a new minor program in theatre arts has been established and a new band program has successfully started in the residential college program. In the Graduate and Professional Studies program for working adults, a new Bachelor of Business Administration degree and a Master of Arts in Teaching degree have been created.

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Inauguration and Homecoming 2010 is reaching its zenith with the Inauguration ceremony to take place Friday afternoon and Homecoming activities all day on Saturday.

Please make all the alumni and special guests coming to campus welcome, and we appreciate everyone’s cooperation in accommodating our guests this weekend.

The central focus of the week, the inauguration ceremony, will take place at 2 p.m. Friday in Pioneer Arena, located in the Niswonger Commons. The ceremony will feature alumni representatives from each graduating class, beginning in the 1940s, as part of the processional as well as current students representing various campus organizations, delegates from more than 25 colleges and universities, a former Tusculum president, the college’s Board of Trustees and faculty members.

A special Inaugural Festival Choir has been formed to perform during the ceremony, which includes alumni and members of the college community. Brief remarks are to be made by representatives from various college constituents including current students, alumni, faculty, staff, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the community. Dr. Kenneth A. Bowman, chair of the Board of Trustees and a 1970 alumnus, will administer the investiture and oath to Dr. Moody, who will then deliver her inaugural address.

Preceding the ceremony will be the Inauguration Luncheon to take place at 11 a.m. on the lawn of the Thomas J. Garland Library.

Friday’s inauguration activities will conclude with the President’s Inaugural Dinner and Ball 6 p.m. at the General Morgan Inn. The special speaker for the dinner will be Deborah Kapp from the McCormick Theological Seminary. Tusculum’s first benefactor, Nettie Fowler McCormick, and her husband, Cyrus McCormick, were also general supporters of the seminary and the couple learned of Tusculum through alumni who were attending the seminary. Special music for the dinner will be provided by the Dr. Bob Orr Trio. The cost of the dinner is $50 per person.

On campus, students will have the annual Pep Rally and Bonfire at the Gravel Pit, beginning at 9 p.m.

Saturday’s Homecoming events begin with a Homecoming Memorial Service that honors the memory of alumni who have passed away since Homecoming 2009 last October. The service will be at 8:30 a.m. in the Chalmers Conference Center inside the Niswonger Commons.

The Alumni Association meeting will follow at 10 a.m., providing alumni an opportunity to learn the latest about their alma mater and meet new alumni officers. Alumni awards will be presented during the meeting, also held inside the Chalmers Conference Center.

The 7^th annual Homecoming Parade will travel through campus starting at 11:30 a.m., featuring members of the Golden Pioneer Class of 1960, who will serve as grand marshals, the Pioneer Pep Band, Homecoming court candidates and student organizations.

A tailgate party for alumni and the Pioneer Club at Pioneer Park (the baseball stadium) will precede the football game. The cost of the tailgate is $15 per person.

Students will have a tailgate from 11 a.m.to 1 p.m. at the basketball courts next to Katherine Hall. Stop by and visit with Electric 94.9, a Tri-Cities radio station, that will be doing a live broadcast from campus.

The Homecoming football game begins at 2 p.m. The Pioneers will take on the Newberry College Wolves in a South Atlantic Conference match-up. Tickets for the game are $10 for adults, $5 for children with children 5 and under free. The tickets can be purchased at the game.

Homecoming activities will conclude Saturday evening with the All Alumni Dinner and Dance/Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. The dinner, which will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Comfort Inn, will include the induction of three past Tusculum student-athletes into the Sports Hall of Fame of Tusculum College - 2005 alumna Amanda Musick Hale , 2002 alumnus Caleb Slover and 1998 alumna Deb Varney Zevetchin.

On Thursday, alumni, faculty, staff and friends of the College engaged in some friendly competition during the Homecoming 2010 Golf Tournament at Link Hills Country Club. On campus, students enjoyed the performance of “The Human IPod,” John Rush.

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Inauguration and Homecoming week events move off campus on Wednesday for a celebration of the presidential inauguration at First Presbyterian Church of Greeneville, Tusculum College’s mother church.

The Tusculum campus community is invited to join First Presbyterian’s congregation for a worship service at 6:15 p.m. at the church in downtown Greeneville (110 N. Main St. - across from the General Morgan Inn). Prior to the service, the campus community is invited to a dinner at the church. The dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. Cost is $6 per person and can be paid at the door.

Also in the evening is the Student Affairs-sponsored Homecoming week event in the Pioneer Perk. The Black Sunshine Poets will perform, beginning at 7 p.m.

Inauguration and Homecoming events today included the Faculty and Staff Inaugural Breakfast in the Thomas J. Garland Library and the unveiling of the new presidential portrait of Dr. Nancy B. Moody. Special guest Dr. Michael Clyburn, president of Alderson-Broaddus College in West Virginia and a close friend of Dr. Moody, unveiled the portrait of Dr. Moody during a brief ceremony in the Reading Room.

The portrait is now displayed as part of the special Presidential Portraits Exhibit along the running track in the Garland Library. Visit the exhibit and learn about the presidents who have led the College through its 217-year history. The exhibit is open during regular hours of the Library.

This evening is an inaugural presentation that is part of the Acts, Arts, Academia performance and lecture series. Dr. Bill Garris, assistant professor of psychology, will explore the ties between Tusculum College and the Roman statesman and philosopher Cicero in a presentation at 7 p.m. in the Behan Arena Theatre in the lower level of the Annie Hogan Byrd Fine Arts Building. The cost of the lecture is $6 per person. Staff, faculty and students are admitted free with ID.

Also this evening is the student Powder Puff football game. It will begin at 8 p.m. Fescue Field.

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Inaugural and Homecoming week activities continue on Tuesday with the Faculty and Staff Inaugural Breakfast, the Presidential Portrait Unveiling Ceremony and an Inaugural Presentation about the roots of Tusculum College’s civic arts curriculum.

Please join us for these events to celebrate the Inauguration of Tusculum’s 27^th and first female president, Dr. Nancy B. Moody, and welcome the guests who will be visiting campus for these special events.

Come visit with Dr. Moody and your fellow faculty and staff members during the Faculty and Staff Inaugural Breakfast from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. in the Thomas J. Garland Library.

At 8 a.m. in the Reading Room of the Library, there will be a Presidential Portrait Unveiling Ceremony. A portrait of Dr. Moody will be unveiled during the ceremony. Dr. Moody’s portrait will be displayed as part of the special Presidential Portrait Exhibit along the Running Track of the Library. Visit the exhibit and learn about the previous 26 presidents of the College. The exhibit is open during regular hours of the Library.

Tuesday evening is an Inaugural presentation and Acts, Arts, Academia/Cicero lecture, which will explore the roots of Tusculum’s civic arts curriculum emphasis. Dr. Bill Garris, assistant professor of psychology, will explore the ties between Tusculum College and the Roman statesman and philosopher Cicero in a presentation at 7 p.m. in the Behan Arena Theatre in the lower level of the Annie Hogan Byrd Fine Arts Building. The cost of the lecture is $6 per person. Staff, faculty and students are admitted free with ID.

Thanks to all those who participated in the Homecoming Chili Cook-off this morning in the Chalmers Conference Center. Six different departments offered some very tasty chili for the judges and students, faculty and staff who sampled and voted for their favorites. Congratulations to the two winners - chili representing the Thomas J. Garland Library won for best tasting. The Office of Financial Aid and Student Employment won best showmanship with their “Wizard of Oz” themed presentation.

The Inaugural Student Art Exhibit opened in the Allison Gallery in the Rankin House on Monday with an opening reception. If you did not get a chance to visit the exhibit on Monday, you can still visit the gallery and see representative samples of the quality work done by Tusculum’s art students. The gallery is open weekdays from noon to 4 p.m.

Below are photos of Fagundes serving chili during the chili cook-off and the “Wizard of Oz” dressed staff members from the Office of Financial Aid and Student Employment as well as a photo from the reception at the Inaugural Student Art Exhibit.

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The much anticipated week of Inaugural and Homecoming festivities begins on Monday, October 4. Please come and enjoy these special activities and welcome the guests who will be coming to campus for these activities celebrating the Inauguration of Tusculum College’s 27^th president, Dr. Nancy B. Moody, and Homecoming 2010. The theme of both events is “A Tapestry of Pioneer Leadership.”

Monday’s events include:

Homecoming Chili Cook-off - 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Chalmers Conference Center

Come enjoy the work of some of the best faculty and staff cooks on campus. Taste the chili recipes prepared by various departments and offices on campus and vote for the best tasting and the best showmanship.

Inaugural Student Art Exhibit Opening Reception - 3:30 - 6 p.m. in the Allison Gallery inside the Rankin House

View the best works of Tusculum College students from the past academic year in the Inaugural Student Art Exhibit. On display will be works completed by students during the past academic year in a variety of classes, including Drawing I and II, Painting II, Printmaking I and II, Ceramics I and II, Sculpture I and II and Basic Design. The exhibit actually begins outside the Rankin House with the number of metal sculptures displayed on the front lawn. If you are not able to make it Monday afternoon, the exhibit will be available for viewing from noon to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday during the month of October.

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