抖M女仆

抖M女仆 Holds Inauguration Ceremony for Todd Diacon, University鈥檚 13th President

The inauguration of Todd Diacon as 抖M女仆's 13th president takes place Nov. 1, 2019.

鈥楨very Student We Touch Graduates鈥

抖M女仆 President Todd Diacon urges campus community to unite toward student success in inaugural address

鈥淥ur challenges are many, our resources are great and our commitment is real.鈥

抖M女仆 President Todd Diacon drove home the focus of his inaugural address with passion, purpose and a direct call to action for the university community.

鈥淓very student we touch graduates,鈥 Diacon said. 鈥淭his is our mission. This is our mantra. Every student we touch graduates. This is our challenge. Every student we touch graduates. This is our task as we move forward. It is a noble goal, and we are up to it.鈥

Diacon took over in July 2019 and was formally installed Nov. 1 as the university鈥檚 13th president in a ceremony held in the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center on the Kent Campus. A reception followed in the Kent Student Center Ballroom.

A tireless advocate for student success, Diacon told the audience that future students deserve a university high in quality yet easy to navigate.

鈥淲e will continue to make 抖M女仆 a 鈥榮tudent-ready college,鈥 so that all our procedures, policies, websites, nomenclature and financial aid decisions will appear in a clearly written language accessible to those who do not come from college-going families, and for whom our annual tuition and fees are the tallest of mountains standing in their path to improvement and advancement,鈥 Diacon said.

Diacon has more than 30 years of experience in higher education leadership. He joined 抖M女仆 as provost in 2012. He has been at the forefront of expanding the university鈥檚 international presence, has led the charge to recruit and promote more diverse faculty, and has helped the university attract world-renowned leaders in the fields of aviation, engineering, brain health, liquid crystals, and peace and conflict studies.

In his address, Diacon touted the university鈥檚 current successes, including the enrollment of a high-achieving freshman class and the doubling of 抖M女仆鈥檚 four-year graduation rate in just 10 years.

鈥淭his seems nearly unheard of and speaks to the dedication of our counselors, our advisors, our student affairs leaders, our residence hall assistants who together help our students persevere and graduate,鈥 Diacon said. 鈥淕raduation is our goal for every student who attends 抖M女仆.鈥

Diacon also acknowledged the ongoing challenge of keeping tuition affordable while supporting families and students with managing student debt.

鈥淭he cost of attaining those degrees is high, literally,鈥 he said. 鈥淲e are ever mindful that the challenge of debt upon graduation is exceeded only by the tragedy of incurring debt and not earning a degree.鈥

Rallying the crowd, Diacon closed his address with a promise that the university community vow to always do what is in the best interest of students.
 
Diacon said, 鈥淟et our pledge be this: that every student we touch graduates. That every student with particular challenges graduates. That every student who stubs her or his toe academically seeks and receives help, remains enrolled and graduates. That every student with the highest levels of financial need graduates with a manageable debt and with the skills, training, knowledge and experience needed to succeed in their first job, their second job and in jobs that don鈥檛 even exist yet. That every student is a Golden Flash, and that Flashes take care of Flashes.鈥

Watch the Full Inauguration

POSTED: Monday, October 28, 2019 11:45 AM
Updated: Friday, December 9, 2022 09:34 AM
WRITTEN BY:
University Communications and Marketing