Welcoming Ceremony Remarks by Dr. Pitts

The Board of Trustees announced the selection of Dr. Beverley J. Pitts as the next president of the University of Indianapolis on Monday, March 14, 2005. She was formally introduced to the campus community on Wednesday, March 23, during a special program in Schwitzer Student Center led by Board Chair Christel DeHaan and Board Secretary Sue Anne Gilroy, who headed  the Presidential Search Committee. Dr. Pitts' remarks follow.

This is an exciting moment for us.  We are so pleased to be coming to the family of the University of Indianapolis.  I’d like to introduce my husband Bill and to let all of you know that we are looking forward to moving to the president’s house and becoming a part of this community.

I want to begin by thanking the search committee and board leadership for an excellent search process and a very warm welcome.  Specifically, I want to thank Christel DeHaan for her outstanding board leadership and Sue Anne Gilroy for conducting a most professional and thorough search.  Also, I would like to thank Joe Burnell for representing the faculty so well and facilitating a most meaningful discussion with the faculty and staff.

I also would like to recognize President Israel for his outstanding leadership over the last seven years.  I have on occasion commented that those of us in higher education in the state pay attention to what is going on at fellow universities.  We have been watching and the state is well aware of the significant growth in quality and visibility of the University of Indianapolis under President Israel’s leadership.  It’s wonderful to step into a leadership position at this institution because it has been so well led by Jerry.  I also want to thank him for his warmth and hospitality in welcoming me.

Finally, we want to thank the administrators, faculty, students and staff for an absolutely warm and friendly reception throughout the process.

You already have learned many things about my past administrative experiences through the search process and Christel’s warm introduction. I would like to tell you just a little more about me on the personal side.  I am a PK (preacher’s kid) growing up in parsonages several places in the country.  I do have a strong affinity for the private, church-related liberal arts experience.  I am a graduate of Anderson University, and so is our son and my father.  There is a family legacy there that I know also is experienced through the generations at the University of Indianapolis.  Both of our sons are graduates of a liberal arts institution. 

One son, Kevin, is a graduate of Anderson University and is now a high energy physicist at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana.  He and his wife Toni have a daughter, Shelby.  Our other son, Rick, is an attorney here in Indianapolis and he and his wife Kathy have a daughter, Lizzy.  We are eager for you to meet all of our family.

I’d like to turn now to the University of Indianapolis and why I was so attracted to the institution.

On our campus visit, we were first introduced to the facilities and, of course, were impressed by the absolutely magnificent DeHaan performing arts center.  Another first impression was the Student Center, a warm and inviting place for gathering, as is so evident today.

There were many other qualities that made the institution so appealing.  I was impressed with the quality and professionalism of the board and the thoroughness of the search.

I was impressed with the leadership of board and administration in strategic planning and the most impressive capital campaign.

I was impressed with the commitment and dedication of the faculty to the institution, and the quality of the academic programs.

I was impressed with the program initiatives, including the international initiatives, from the flag ceremony to the Athens campus, adult learning programs, the life sciences initiatives including nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy and the HealthNet partnership, the Fountain Square community programs center, the education initiatives including CELL, and a great intercollegiate athletics program.

I was impressed with the values of the institution, underwritten with its strong ties to the Methodist church and spoken so well in the short phrase, “Education for Service.”  Bill and I look forward to finding a church home in one of the many great Methodist churches in Indianapolis.

In addition to such a great first impression on so many fronts, I have to say that I was most impressed with the students.  They are bright, articulate learners who care very much about this institution, and they are committed to the education-for-service mission of the University of Indianapolis.

As we begin this journey together, I ask for your help. There are so many things I don’t yet know, and so many accomplishments I have yet to learn about, so I ask for your patience as I spend my first weeks on campus visiting all of you, learning about the programs and people that make up this great institution. Bill and I are working our way to becoming Greyhounds, and we very much are looking forward to joining you in July.

We are all proud of the legacy President Israel, past presidents, and all of you have established, and we look forward to some great days ahead. Thank you for being here today.