A reception and celebration to honor 蹤獲扦 President Lester A. Lefton was held Friday, April 4, from 4-5:30 p.m. at the 蹤獲扦 Student Center Ballroom. The event, hosted by the 蹤獲扦 State Board of Trustees, was open to all faculty, staff, students, alumni and members of the community.
蹤獲扦 State President Lester A. Lefton thanks artist Shane Neal for his official presidential portrait, unveiled the evening of April 4 during the Celebration of Leadership event.
Lefton, who will retire as 蹤獲扦 States 11th president on July 1, has served as the universitys chief executive officer since July 1, 2006. The university achieved significant accomplishments during his time as 蹤獲扦 State president, including record student enrollment, retention and graduation numbers; the town-gown partnership that resulted in the revitalization of downtown 蹤獲扦; the universitys Centennial Campaign that raised a record-breaking $265 million; and the Foundations of Excellence: Building the Future campus improvement program that is transforming 蹤獲扦 States campuses to meet world-class standards.
This year, and for the past seven years, President Lefton has delivered on his primary goal ensuring in every way possible that we improve retention and develop the quality experiences and facilities that are appropriate for the aspirations of our students, 蹤獲扦 State Board Chair Jane Murphy Timken said at the most recent 蹤獲扦 State Board of Trustees meeting. Weve grown our enrollment by more than 26 percent and raised our profile as a university of choice, and it has been instrumental to our academic and financial health. We believe his tenure will be remembered as a dynamic time for 蹤獲扦 State.
The afternoon reception featured a video presentation and remarks from Todd Diacon, 蹤獲扦 States senior vice president for academic affairs and provost; Alfreda Brown, vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion; and Evan Gildenblatt, the universitys special assistant for Federal Relations in Washington, D.C., and a former executive director for 蹤獲扦 States Undergraduate Student Government. Lefton also made remarks at the event.
An evening reception also took place April 4 in the Erdmann-Zucchero Black Box Theatre in the Center for the Performing Arts. The Celebration of Leadership event included a special performance by 14 蹤獲扦 State senior theatre students and remarks from Charlene Reed, 蹤獲扦 States vice president and university secretary; Sandra Harbrecht, who served two terms as board chair and chaired the presidential search committee that led to the appointment of Lefton as the universitys 11th president; and Lefton. In addition, artist Shane Neal unveiled the official presidential portrait of Lefton.