You know what they say: three’s a charm.
Or so hopes St. Thomas University staff, faculty and students. The university is on its third president in three years, but the newest looks like she’s here to stay.
Dawn Russell is now officially president and vice-chancellor of STU after the university community gathered Saturday to properly “install” her as the newest addition.
Although the ceremony was filled with uniforms and camera flashes, the feeling in the room resembled that of a welcome home party for a STU alumnus who’s been away for 34 years.
“It’s great to be home in New Brunswick and at St. Thomas University,” she said during her installation address.
Russell choked up a bit when she spoke about the people who helped get her to where she is today.
“My parents have passed away, but I think of them today and I am very grateful for the rich family life they provided to me and my siblings…and for encouraging us to believe in equal opportunity,” she said.
Russell recognized the work the 12 former presidents did for the university and identified some ways she will “realize the opportunities that exist to build further on our strengths.”
The Kinsella Auditorium saw about 150 faculty members, Canadian university representatives, students, staff and Russell’s family turn out to congratulate the new president.
Guests included the university’s chancellor, Rev. Robert Harris, who led Russell in her oath of office and Dr. Ravi Srinivas of the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas.
Srinivas represented the International Council of Universities of Saint Thomas Aquinas, of which STU was a founding member.
A particularly special speaker was Rev. Douglas McNeill, a classmate of Russell’s and president of the class of 1977. He spoke on behalf of STU alumni.
“Msgr. Donald Duffie and Msgr. George Martin were the presidents during your time here at STU,” he said. “Imagine the smiles on both of their faces as one of their own has come home to lead their beloved university into the next century.”
Dr. Robert Campbell, president of Mount Allison University and representative of the Association of Atlantic Universities and the Universities and Colleges of Canada, congratulated Russell. He said he would allow STU to be considered the top liberal arts university in the country – just for the day.
“I look forward to a positive, rewarding and competitive working relationship with president Russell,” he said.
The afternoon was emotional. Anyone in the audience could tell how much the warm invitation back into the STU community meant to Russell.
Every time it was mentioned that Russell is the university’s first female president, a particular group of women in the audience began to clap.
“The installation of a new president is an important moment of transition in the life of a university…it is an occasion to think about what we are, where we have come from, where we are going and who we want to be,” Russell said.
“St. Thomas should strive be the best liberal arts university in Canada, second to none.”
