NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – Tennessee State University welcomed a new president Friday, Oct. 25 when Dr. Glenda Baskin Glover took the oath of office and officially became the eighth president of the University. Dignitaries and politicians from across the country and Middle Tennessee joined community members to welcome the University’s newest president. Spend a few minutes reliving the Inauguration of Dr. Glenda Baskin Glover and listen to her vision for the future. (Video courtesy of News Channel 5, Nashville)
Tennessee State University
3500 John A. Merritt Boulevard
Nashville, Tennessee 37209
615.963.5331
About Tennessee State University
With nearly 9,000 students, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university and is a comprehensive, urban, coeducational, land-grant university offering 38 undergraduate, 22 graduate and seven doctoral programs. TSU has earned a top 20 ranking for Historically Black Colleges and Universities according to U.S. News and World Report, and rated as one of the top Universities in the country by Washington Monthly for social mobility, research and community service. Founded in 1912 Tennessee State University celebrates 100 years in Nashville during 2012. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – Activities marking the investiture of the eighth president of Tennessee State University are in full swing on campus and in Nashville.
With a procession on Wednesday from the president’s residence along John A. Merritt Boulevard through campus to the Amphitheater, Dr. Glenda Baskin Glover, the University’s first female president, kicked off her inaugural ceremonies to the cheers of hundreds of onlooker, students, staff and faculty.
“I truly believe Dr. Glover will make a great president,” said Dijiana Davis, a senior Agribusiness major from Nashville, as she stood along the procession route beaming with apparent satisfaction for her new president. “As a TSU graduate she has roots here and she is very friendly and involved with the students, and those are good indications of what we can expect.”
With the Aristocrat of Band playing some of their favorite marching tunes, Dr. Glover, accompanied by her family, yet-to-be-crowned Mr. and Miss TSU, the SGA leadership, Cabinet members, and students carrying congratulatory banners, walked the nearly one-mile distance to the Amphitheater where another large crowd was waiting.
Also joining Dr. Glover in the procession were friends of the president, including gospel great and TSU graduate, Dr. Bobby Jones (’59).
Beulah Oldham (’87, M.A.), who identified herself as a sorority sister of the president, said Dr. Glover is going be a great asset not only to TSU but the whole of Tennessee, as the first African-American female university president in the TBR.
“She is all about business and students,” Oldham said. “She has a vested interested in this institution and she will do whatever it takes to ensure that it grows to its full potential.”
Cassandra Griggs called the presidential procession “a great way” to start the week of activities. “It highlights the many great things planned for the week and many more to come,” said Griggs, director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving.
In a brief ceremony organized by the Office of Student Affairs at the Amphitheater, preschoolers from the TSU Early Learning Center, who also marched in the procession, touted their global knowledge by identifying different flags of the word through songs, and presented President Glover with a framed collage of flags.
Dr. Glover was also presented with well wishes, congratulatory statements and gifts from various student organizations.
The president thanked the organizers, students, faculty, staff and visitors for a “well planned” event and all the gifts and sentiments, and welcome them to the investiture on Friday and all other activities marking her inauguration.
“Thank you all for your gifts, thoughts and well wishes and I look forward to seeing you at the inauguration,” Dr. Glover said.
The procession highlights a weeklong series of engagements across the University that will embrace everyone at TSU, as well as leaders from higher education in the United States and around the world, the extended alumni family, and friends and neighbors in Nashville and beyond. It will culminate with an inaugural gala Friday night and the Homecoming football game at LP Field between TSU and Eastern Illinois on Saturday.
Tennessee State University
3500 John A. Merritt Boulevard
Nashville, Tennessee 37209
615.963.5331
About Tennessee State University
With nearly 9,000 students, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university and is a comprehensive, urban, coeducational, land-grant university offering 38 undergraduate, 22 graduate and seven doctoral programs. TSU has earned a top 20 ranking for Historically Black Colleges and Universities according to U.S. News and World Report, and rated as one of the top Universities in the country by Washington Monthly for social mobility, research and community service. Founded in 1912 Tennessee State University celebrates 100 years in Nashville during 2012. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu
University ushers in a New Century, New Direction for Excellence
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – Tennessee State University will hold a week full of exciting events October 20-26 as community members, alumni and friends of the University come to Nashville to celebrate Homecoming 2013.
Inspired by last year’s centennial and moving forward into its next 100 years, TSU will celebrate a New Century, New Direction for Excellence for 2013 with a week full of events.
“Homecoming at Tennessee State University is unlike any other,” said Sandra Griggs, Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving. “It’s a time to reconnect with old friends, classmates, and reminisce about the days they walked the campus as a student. The positive changes and growth are remarkable. Although there has been much expansion, the traditions of Tennessee State A&I remain sound.”
While TSU has cherished and maintained certain Homecoming traditions, it has also moved forward across the century, finding new ways to celebrate pride in the institution, its students and alumni. Innovations that have sprung up over the years include the parade, pep rally, Homecoming Court, tent parties and many additional campus activities.
This year sees the return of the Homecoming Parade back to Jefferson Street. The parade route will begin at 14th Avenue and Jefferson Street, and proceed two miles to 33rd Avenue and Albion Street. Last year, the route was moved for the Centennial celebration only to accommodate large floats and a large influx in crowd size. This year’s parade begins at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26.
The annual Robert Murrell Oratorical Contest will officially kick off homecoming week on Sunday, Oct. 20 beginning at 3 p.m. in the Floyd Payne Campus Center. The Gospel Explosion rounds out the evening, beginning at 6 p.m. also in the Floyd Payne Campus Center.
Student events highlight Monday, Oct. 21 when the Courtyard Show takes place in Welton Plaza starting at 11 a.m., followed by the Battle of the Residence Halls at 7 p.m. in the Floyd Payne Campus Center.
The Blue Sapphire Awards will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 22 in the Walter S. Davis Humanities Building in the Poag Auditorium beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Presidential Inaugural events kick off Wednesday, Oct. 23 in conjunction with Homecoming starting with the Presidential Processional at 11 a.m., and the Mr. and Miss TSU Coronation and Ball at 7 p.m. in Kean Hall.
Events continue on Thursday, Oct. 24 with the Inaugural Symposium at 10 a.m. at the Avon Williams campus Auditorium, and Homecoming Concert at 7 p.m. in Kean Hall.
Friday, Oct. 25 begins with the Investiture of President Glenda Baskin Glover as 8th President of the University beginning at 9 a.m. in the Howard Gentry Complex. Homecoming events include the Charles Campbell Fish Fry on the President’s Lawn at 11 a.m., the annual Pep Rally at 11:45 a.m. in Hale Stadium, and the TSU Pan-Hellenic Step Show at 5 p.m. in the Gentry Complex. Tickets are $10 for students in advance, $15 at the door. The night ends with the Inaugural Reception and Scholarship Gala beginning at 6 p.m. at the Gaylord Opryland Resort.
Saturday, Oct. 26 begins with the Homecoming Parade beginning at 8 a.m., followed by the Showcase of Bands at 2 p.m. at LP Field. The Homecoming football game between TSU and Eastern Illinois kicks off at 4 p.m. at LP Field.
Tennessee State University
3500 John A. Merritt Boulevard
Nashville, Tennessee 37209
615.963.5331
About Tennessee State University
With nearly 9,000 students, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university and is a comprehensive, urban, coeducational, land-grant university offering 38 undergraduate, 22 graduate and seven doctoral programs. TSU has earned a top 20 ranking for Historically Black Colleges and Universities according to U.S. News and World Report, and rated as one of the top Universities in the country by Washington Monthly for social mobility, research and community service. Founded in 1912 Tennessee State University celebrates 100 years in Nashville during 2012. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu