By Kayla Grant and Derrian Carter
The new president of Clark Atlanta University urged the students not to let anything stand in the way of destiny, at the Fall Convocation Sept. 10.
In front of an estimated 1,500 engaged audience members, Dr. George T. French Jr. encouraged them to not “give way to defeat,” but instead be “consistent and insistent” to achieve their ultimate goal in life.
“There is no doubt, we will win,” he said. His speech motivated and inspired the students of CAU to never give way to despair, but to keep moving forward to reach their pinnacle.
Dr. French took the public mantle as the school’s fifth president and delivered the Convocation address to formally introduce the new academic year in L.S. Epps Gymnasium. He described himself as “humbled” for the opportunity. “I feel blessed that together we are embarking on a new horizon for Clark Atlanta University,” Dr. French said.
In his speech, Dr. French’s emphasized the importance of realizing one’s destiny, one’s ability and one’s worth.
“The destiny’s been determined. I will no longer vacillate. I will no longer vacate. I will no longer listen to, listen at or listen in on losing. I will not be defeated, dejected, diluted or detoured. I will no longer navigate with the needle of negativity. The direction has been decided, the trail to be tried. The destiny directed the future forged,” Dr. French stated.
"I will no longer conform to the cancer of can't. I now will confirm the condition of can," he added.
Dr. French put heavy emphasis on togetherness within CAU. From the beginning to the end of his address, his overarching message was to bring students, faculty and alumni together as a family.
He stated, “This is the dawning of a new day in each of our lives... as collective, as collective constituents.” Throughout his speech, he constantly repeated “together” and “collective” in order to display his heavy emphasis on making CAU a family. Further, he went on to say that he has “the very best faculty to be found anywhere, not within the HBCU community, but to be found anywhere in higher education.” His message reinforced to CAU that no matter what the school confronts, they will be able to overcome it as a family.
In addition to that, Dr. French stated that Clark Atlanta University was going to be entering the dawn of a new day and reaching new horizons.
“I feel blessed that together, together, together, we are embarking on a new horizon for Clark Atlanta University. Indeed, this is the dawning of a new day,” French stated.
“The dawning of a new day embraces five strategic pillars: excellence, engagement, discovery, creativity and service. Secondly, the essence of these pillars is not new to CAU. As a premiere university, these pillars have always been behind the educational strength of Clark Atlanta University,” Dr. French said.
The one pillar that he went in-depth on was excellence. He stated, “Excellence has been a part of CAU’s landscape and horizon.” He detailed the history of CAU including the members who helped consolidate Clark College and Atlanta University like Thomas W. Cole and the distinguished alumni who helped shaped CAU and the world like James Weldon Johnson. He proclaimed that their brand of excellence will continue through all students at CAU under his leadership.
Dr. French recognized some of the successful alumni who came from Clark Atlanta University. He used these people to provide the audience with examples of excellence and with a reason historically black colleges and universities are needed.
“Kenya Barris, whose gifts were sharpened and honed in the classrooms and labs of CAU’s Mass Media Arts Department,” Dr. French stated.
“These are just a few examples of excellence and why HBCU’s, like Clark Atlanta University, are needed today more than ever in our history,” he added.
Before coming to Clark Atlanta University, Dr. French served as president of Miles College since 2006. Prior to that, French served as a member of the President’s Cabinet as the director of Institutional Planning and Development.
Dr. French earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with an emphasis in Policy Analysis from the University of Louisville, a Juris Doctorate from Miles Law School, and a Ph.D. in Higher Education from Jackson State University.
This article is published in the Clark Atlanta University Panther.
Comments