Among a crowd of students, faculty and alumni of Tuskegee University, Gilbert L. Rochon became the school's newest president Saturday. He is only the sixth president in the 130-year history of the university.
Members of the community and various well-wishers also filled the Gen. Daniel "Chappie" James Center for more than three hours to witness the inauguration of the new president. More than 25 speakers took the stage to offer their praise and congratulations to Rochon, including Gov. Robert Bentley, who is still fresh off his own inauguration.
"It is indeed an honor for one of my first appearances as your newly inaugurated governor to come to Tuskegee University," Bentley said. "This is such a prestigious university. As the governor of the state of Alabama, I want to support all institutions of higher learning and there is no greater institution than Tuskegee University."The university's history was a focal point of the afternoon as founder and first president Booker T. Washington was mentioned by nearly every speaker. John Wilson, executive director of the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities, mentioned Washington's ambition of starting an entire university out of nothing and wished for Rochon to have the same productivity, ambition and discovery as Washington.
Before taking Tuskegee University into the future, Rochon himself also acknowledged the past. "It is with great respect for this historic institution, founded by Booker T. Washington on July 4, 1881, and for my illustrious predecessors that I stand before you today," Rochon said.
Rochon said he "stood upon the shoulders" of past presidents, including Washington, Robert Moton, Frederick Douglas, Luther Foster and Benjamin Payton. He went on to praise the university's student body, faculty and programs while talking of specific goals for the future.
Enhancing the undergraduate program, building on their strengths in veterinary medicine and dedicating themselves to the social and economic development of the surrounding regional communities were just some of the tasks Rochon laid out. He also spoke of upgrading the buildings and improving the athletic facilities, both drawing huge cheers from the crowd. "George Washington Carver once said 'Where there is no vision, there is no hope,'" Rochon said. "We have hope in abundance and we have great expectations."
Payton, the university's previous president, said the board of trustees has chosen well before placing the medal of presidency around Rochon's neck. Letters read from former U.S. President Bill Clinton and current President Barack Obama also praised the appointment of Rochon and the prestige of one of the oldest historically black colleges and universities.
The ceremony had a few light moments throughout the afternoon, including Auburn University President Jay Gogue, that school's 18th president, asking for "some good advice" from Rochon on longevity in office.
Rochon's brother Stephen, a retired Coast Guard rear admiral who is now chief usher in the White House, joked about not using that much time for his remarks because he didn't want to do what a preacher did a few years back and put the crowd to sleep.
Stephen Rochon said that actually happened and he remembers a little boy going up to the preacher with his hands on his hips and asking him to "please shut up." The crowd erupted in laughter when he said the boy in the story was the university's new president.
Rochon's immediate family was also in attendance and joined him on stage. They included his wife, Patricia, son Hildred, daughter Emile and mother, Ursula Carrere Rochon Jupiter.
Rochon previously served as director of the Purdue Terrestrial Observatory, senior research scientist for the Rosen Center for Advanced Computing and associate vice president for collaborative research and engagement at Purdue University. He holds a doctorate in urban and regional planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a master's degree in public health from Yale University and a bachelor's degree from Xavier University of Louisiana.
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