PSU marked the beginning of a new chapter in its 136-year long history on Thursday, April 12, when the Plymouth State community formally placed its future in the hands of President Sara Jayne Steen.
Heralded as the Investiture, and riding under the banner of “Imagine a Way”, the formal ceremony took place in the P.E. Center – all students and faculty were invited to attend the event, which formally recognized President Steen as the new leader of PSU.
At 3:00 P.M., the Pemigawasset Choral Society took their places.Music began to play and a procession filed into the room bearing the flags of N.H. and America. Everyone rose formally as the procession – formed mainly of speakers and faculty – swept past.
The crowd remained standing for the Pledge of Allegiance, the PSU Chamber Singers led by Dr. Daniel Perkins sang The Star Spangled Banner.
After they finished and received their applause, alum Eugene Savage, the USNH Trustee and Master of Ceremonies and Chairman of the Presidential Search Committee stepped up to speak. He welcomed everyone, and introduced the speakers.
The Pemigawasset Choral Society rose again to sing “Spring Comes Laughing” and “Edelweiss”, accompanied by pianist Margot Swift and conducted by Dr. Robert Swift. The music flowed from one song into a solo by Margo Coolidge, who was then joined by her fellow singers. When the melody faded, and the newest round of applause died down, the singers returned to their seats and the main event began.
On behalf of the student body, Student Senate Speaker Sean Greenlaw welcomed everyone. He thanked President Steen for her noticeably positive impact on town relations and the University itself.
Andrea Bergeron Sbona, the Alumni Representative, who represents about 30,000 people, introduced President Steen as one who has “already demonstrated her dedication to the University.”
Associate Professor Liz Ahl, the Chair of the English department, welcomed her colleague on behalf of the faculty. President Steen is a former English professor who specializes in Renaissance studies. Eager to have another talented professor, Ahl claimed, “She’s been hard to pin down to teach classes in the fall, but I’m sure we’ll work something out.” As an April Fools joke, in fact, she and other members of the English Department sent President Steen her assigned teaching schedule for fall.
The Professional, Administrative and Technical Staff represented by Ann Thurston, the Financial Administrator for Academic Affairs said, “Dr. Steen has already proven her commitment to PSU and the well-being of our students. Under her leadership, we can all imagine a way to the future of the University.”
Next, the PSU Operating Staff spokesperson, Mark Casale, the Architectural Drafting Specialist spoke. “From the very first time Sara Jayne Steen spoke to the Operating Staff, we were excited,” he said, going on to comment about her open and approachable personality. “It is easy to imagine that anything is possible,” he concluded.
Out of 140 applicants, the Chair of the Select Board of Holderness, Peter Francesco, said, “Her resume would make one think of a larger-than-life personality,” but that he and others had found the opposite to be true.
Finally, the Chair of the Select Board of Plymouth, Wallace Cushing III, claimed that the PSU of today doubtlessly outstripped any thoughts the founders of the University had back in 1871.
After the speakers finished, the PSU Chamber Singers stepped up again to sing “African Celebration” by Stephen Hatfield.
Then, Dr. Stephen Reno, the USNH Chancellor, thanked the singers warmly before welcoming everyone. “There are very few moments in the life of a University than brings its mission into focus like the investiture of a new president,” he said. “I hope that each of us here will reflect on their hopes for this University.” Plymouth’s focus he said is “right out front.” He defined it as, “Teaching, informed by scholarship and leading to service,” and cautioned President Steen to, “Make mission statement an active verb. Not in what is taught, but by how it is taught.” He wanted everyone, especially President Steen, to imagine a way to the PSU of the future.
Chancellor Reno was followed by Andrew Lietz, the Chair of the USNH Board of Trustees, formally charged President Steen to, “Cherish and protect PSU.” In turn, he said, “We pledge our commitment to you.”
Together with Chancellor Reno, he placed the Medal of Office around President Steen’s neck. Beaming, she took the podium, and took the time to thank every one who came that day.
In her speech, President Steen said that, “When I first visited Plymouth State, now over a year ago, I was impressed by the shared dedication to students: asked what they wanted, employees repeatedly responded with what would be good for students. I was also impressed by the strong sense of community; by the energy with which faculty and students approached learning.”
President Steen then outlined her hopes for the future. She addressed major concerns, like the availability of education to needy students. “Like approximately one-third of current Plymouth State students,” she said, “my husband, Joe, and I are among the first generation in our families to attend college.” “We were aided by scholarships and student loans,” she said. “Ours is a story I hear again and again from Plymouth State alumni: PSU transforms lives.”
She introduced the way she imagined, and her plans for realizing it. Key among her plans is the two-part Imagine a Way Scholarship, which was created for the Investiture. One is in honor of President Steen’s parents, and the second is in honor of her husband’s sister and late husband. “To date, the fund has received over $50,000 in gifts and pledges,” she said, “On our students’ behalf, thank you.”
“I imagine a campus where art, history, and the world of ideas are visible wherever one looks,” Steen said. One of her greatest focuses for the future will be diversity; she wants to encourage more students to study abroad and pursue other forms of international education, while encouraging more students to come to Plymouth in order to foster cultural understanding.
“Plans are under way for a state-of-the-art complex to integrate academic programs and research in health and wellness with athletics and recreation on one site,” she said. Heading up these plans is the construction of an ice arena for the University.
In an attempt to bring the campus and the community closer as well, Lamson will offer library cards to non-PSU members of the Plymouth community. Already, students can check out books from Pease Library, down the hill from Lamson, and now the community will be able to share some of the facilities PSU offers.
She also took time to recognize the community outreach programs on campus, such as the “Shreddin’ for Shelter” event, Project Mentor, and the “Stories to Tell my Grandkids” project done in conjunction with the Senior Center.
“The future holds challenges, and we will meet them,” Steen promised. She shared a cartoon. “In the first panel, we see a natural disaster. A school of fish has washed onto shore, and fish are dying. A little figure is down there working hard, throwing those fish back into the water, giving them life. On a hillside stands a second figure saying ‘you can’t do anything. The problem’s too large. Let it go. It doesn’t matter.” In the final panel, the little figure at the bottom, as he throws another fish, says, ‘Mattered to that one.'” This philosophy drives the Imagine a Way Scholarship, and President Steen’s reign as University President.
The reception opened up after Steen’s speech. Sodex-ho provided plenty of food, everything from bread, crackers and cheese to strawberries and pineapples. Servers moved around with plates of spring rolls in special “Imagine a Way” glasses, which guests could take home.
Steen mingled among the crowd, stopping to talk to everyone, regardless of their status, student or neighbor. The festivities wore on until people began to drift out, grabbing the shuttle or hopping in vehicles to get out of the weather.
On a day that was punctuated by haphazard weather, what did President Steen think of her first New Hampshire winter? “I love it here,” she said.