Brenau University Inc.
08/22/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/22/2024 13:26
Investiture ceremony celebrates President Barnett
Brenau University and its Board of Trustees celebrated President David L. Barnett, the eleventh president of the university, in an investiture ceremony held Aug. 22.
During the ceremony, Barnett was presented with the seal of the university by Mike Smith, chair of Brenau's Board of Trustees, and given the charge of office.
"This seal signifies the weight and honor of the office of the president. It embodies the trust placed in you to lead this institution with wisdom, integrity, and a commitment to our mission," Smith said. "This is not just a moment of transition but a moment of transformation. With President Barnett at the helm, we look forward to a future that is as bright as our shared dreams."
After receiving the seal, Barnett talked about Brenau's thriving future to a capacity crowd of more than 730 in Pearce Auditorium on Brenau's historic campus.
Barnett spoke of the legacy and impact of Brenau's 146 years in Gainesville.
"Our motto, 'as gold refined by fire,' speaks to Brenau University igniting a fire in the minds of future innovators and cultivating transformative leaders for northeast Georgia and beyond," Barnett said. "Brenau's commitment to personalized learning and community engagement fuels a vibrant hub of intellectual exploration and social impact, fostering a generation of changemakers meeting the challenges of tomorrow."
The theme of his speech centered on how Brenau can build on its legacy and mission to attain "A Thriving Future" for the university and the broader community.
"I am confident that a A Thriving Future is attainable for Brenau, for our students, for our faculty and staff, and for our community because I believe in the good work we are capable of achieving," Barnett said. "I believe with every fiber of my being that if we collectively dare to dream big, with a focus on meeting our communities' needs through the investment of our time, talents, and treasures, A Thriving Future is on our horizon."
During the ceremony, Gainesville Mayor Sam Couvillon and Hall County Commissioner Billy Powell each presented proclamations declaring Aug. 22, 2024, as President David L. Barnett Day.
Delegates representing 21 colleges, universities and higher education organizations took part in the traditional processional for the event. After the ceremony, more than 700 faculty, staff, students, alumni, community members and guests filled the front lawn of Brenau's historic campus for a reception.
The board appointed Barnett as president in February 2024 to succeed Dr. Anne Skleder who passed away in October 2023.
Barnett previously served as executive vice president and chief financial officer at Brenau, overseeing the university's day-to-day operations and its strategic financial planning. Barnett also teaches a graduate-level course in the College of Education. Previously, Barnett served as interim dean of Brenau's College of Education from 2010-12 and associate vice president for nonresidential and online programs from 2005-12.
Before coming to Brenau in 2005, Barnett was academic compliance officer and associate dean of students at Spalding University in Louisville, Kentucky. He previously held student-focused and academic administrative positions at the University of Louisville School of Medicine in Louisville, Union College in Barbourville, Kentucky, Truett-McConnell College in Cleveland, Georgia, and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.
An investiture is held for university presidents who previously have been serving as interim. During the formal ceremony, the president is conferred with the articles and symbols of the office and of the institution in an event that celebrates the school's history and its future.
More information about the event, including coverage of the ceremony, can be found on the Presidential Investiture website.
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