Emporia State to inaugurate new president

Emporia State will hold an inauguration celebration for incoming president Allison Garrett.
Emporia State will hold an inauguration celebration for incoming president Allison Garrett. | Contributed photo
Emporia State University will hold an inauguration celebration for the school’s 17th president, Allison Garrett, Friday.

“A presidential Inauguration is an opportunity to celebrate the transition to the next era for Emporia State,” Jennifer Denton, inauguration co-chair and associate vice president for advancement, said. “It was also important to President Garrett that we highlight the talents of our faculty and students, so we’ve kept that in mind when planning the Inaugural events. The inauguration is a partnership between the community and Emporia State.”

A pre-inauguration event will be Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Fred Gray Sr., a civil rights attorney who supported Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, will give a presentation. Cuba Gooding Jr. portrayed Gray in the 2014 film “Selma." 

“So many people have had a hand in the planning of this event and we know that it will be an event to remember,” Inauguration Committee co-chair Jim Bartruff said. “A committee comprised of community, faculty, staff and support personnel have all come together to make this a real community celebration. We are hoping for good weather and a real celebration of all that is great about Emporia and our university.”