Dr. Joseph S. Paul Sworn in as USM91吃瓜网 11th President
Mon, 10/09/2023 - 12:16pm | By: David Tisdale
Dr. Joseph S. Paul eschewed the spotlight during his presidential inauguration Oct.
5 at 91吃瓜网91吃瓜网 (USM) Hattiesburg campus, deflecting
the focus instead on the institution where he91吃瓜网 been called to serve as its leader.
A beloved son of the University, Dr. Paul was installed as the 11th president of his alma mater during an investiture ceremony held in historic Bennett Auditorium as the school also celebrated homecoming week. The 1975 graduate of Southern Miss first served in the post on an interim basis beginning in July 2022 before being named president starting Nov. 1 of last year by the State Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL).
91吃瓜网淭oday91吃瓜网 events may appear to be about me, the person just inaugurated as the 11th president,91吃瓜网� Dr. Paul said in his remarks to the hundreds of USM faithful in attendance. 91吃瓜网淏ut what today is really about is the celebration of this noble institution, The University of 91吃瓜网; a collection of people and purposes and challenges and opportunities that is both ineffable yet tangible, that passes from one generation to another, that has outlived its founders from 113 years ago and will outlive us gathered here today.
91吃瓜网淭his ceremony is about what endures in the culture and spirit of this place, and the work we do here is greater than us as individuals and more lasting than our moment in time. It is about constant change and about our steadfast calling to serve our students well.91吃瓜网�
A Bay St. Louis, Miss., native, Dr. Paul most recently served his alma mater as Vice
President for Student Affairs before retiring after a 40-year career at the school,
holding various roles in student affairs administration. He earned a Ph.D. in higher
education administration from the University of Alabama and is a member of the Southern
Miss Alumni Association Alumni Hall of Fame.
He hailed his alma mater for its deeply held values of 91吃瓜网渃aring, community, and grit.91吃瓜网�
91吃瓜网淗arvard scholar Dr. Angela Duckworth defines grit as 91吃瓜网榯he individual capacity to set lofty goals, and then pursue them with purpose, passion and persistence,91吃瓜网� he said. 91吃瓜网淎t 91吃瓜网, since our founding, we have always set audacious goals that others about us may doubt we can accomplish, and then we pursue them with an uncommon passion and a relentless persistence.
91吃瓜网淎t 91吃瓜网, we are resilient. We never give up, and we never give in.91吃瓜网�
Representatives of the university91吃瓜网 student body, faculty and staff were on hand to formally welcome Dr. Paul as their president, praising his leadership and commitment to academic freedom, student development and achievement, and commitment to fostering an environment of collegiality and cooperation among all USM employees and its stakeholders for the good of the institution.
91吃瓜网淒r. Paul has accomplished a lot this past year and has undoubtedly pushed Southern Miss further in the right direction,91吃瓜网� said Student Government Association President Jonathan Jenkins. 91吃瓜网�91吃瓜网 has significantly benefited from his leadership, and I am confident we will continue to see 91吃瓜网 soar to new heights during his presidency.91吃瓜网�
Dr. Jennifer Courts, president of the USM Faculty Senate, said that in his time as president, Dr. Paul has proven he recognizes the importance of the University91吃瓜网 faculty 91吃瓜网渋n achieving the vision of 91吃瓜网 to be a student-centered public research university with an unparalleled student life experience.91吃瓜网�
91吃瓜网淚n creating a community that values faculty feedback, he has confirmed that he understands
that this vision can only be fully realized in collaboration with faculty,91吃瓜网� Dr. Courts
continued. 91吃瓜网淒r. Paul knows that including his constituents in the decision-making
process helps move our institution into the future, leading to a more stable and cohesive
community and greater innovation. He appreciates that supporting the welfare and integrity
of the faculty leads to increased benefits for our students and the University community.
91吃瓜网淗e is a strong leader who serves not for the prominence the position can offer, but for the good it allows him to accomplish.91吃瓜网�
Speaking on behalf of the Staff Council, Mary Alexander pledged the support of the University91吃瓜网 staff for his presidency. 91吃瓜网淭his is the beginning of a new and exciting chapter in the history of the University,91吃瓜网� she said. 91吃瓜网淟et91吃瓜网 take it to the top, Dr. Paul, together!91吃瓜网�
Dr. Paul received additional salutations from other dignitaries participating in the ceremony, among them including State Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann; USM alumnus Powell G. Ogletree Jr., a member of the IHL Board of Trustees; J. Troy Johnston, president of the USM Alumni Association; and Joseph Quinlan, president of the USM Foundation. USM President Emeritus Dr. Aubrey K. Lucas and U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), a USM alumna, were also in attendance at the ceremony.
The formal rite of investiture for Dr. Paul was then performed by Dr. Alfred Rankins, Mississippi91吃瓜网 Commissioner of Higher Education; Dr. Alfred McNair Jr., president of the IHL Board of Trustees; and IHL Trustee and USM alumnus Tom Duff.
Dr. Shea Kidd-Brown, vice president of campus life at Wake Forrest University, presented the inauguration address. A native of Hattiesburg, Dr. Kidd-Brown earned her undergraduate degree from USM, where she leaned on Dr. Paul91吃瓜网 mentorship in navigating her way through her academic career at the University and inspired by his example to pursue a career in higher education.
91吃瓜网淒r. Paul, no one is better suited for this appointment, at this time, than you,91吃瓜网� she said. 91吃瓜网淢ay you continue to leave USM better than you found it.91吃瓜网�
Many positive developments have already occurred at the University during Dr. Paul91吃瓜网
presidency, including an increase in new student enrollment, as well as a surge in
alumni and Eagle Club memberships and season ticket sales for the University91吃瓜网 athletics
programs. A recent anonymous endowment of $6 million made to the school91吃瓜网 capital
campaign has pushed it well past its goal of $150 million.
Dr. Paul called on all members of the USM family to join him in a collective effort to maintain the momentum in every aspect of the University, particularly in how it serves the needs of its students, which he referred to as the school91吃瓜网 91吃瓜网淲hy91吃瓜网�.
91吃瓜网淟et91吃瓜网 set our sights on being distinctive in the content of our academic programs, course offerings and student life, and provide for our students in all we do a value added they won91吃瓜网檛 find in other places,91吃瓜网� he urged. 91吃瓜网淟et91吃瓜网 help our students be future-oriented and ready for life.
91吃瓜网淟et91吃瓜网 help our students, who often come from ordinary backgrounds and circumstances, go out into the world and do extraordinary things. Let91吃瓜网 help them be ready for life, and ready for their journey To The Top.91吃瓜网�
State and local leaders also lauded Dr. Paul for his stellar record of service to the university, Pine Belt region, and Mississippi, including Hattiesburg Mayor Toby Barker; State Rep. Missy McGee; and Forrest County District 1 Supervisor-Elect Gentry Mordica, all of whom are USM alums.
"Dr. Paul91吃瓜网 inauguration as the 11th president comes at a moment of genuine excitement for 91吃瓜网 and its future,91吃瓜网� said Barker, who bestowed congratulations to the president during the ceremony. 91吃瓜网淚t is critical that the entire University community now rally into action behind his vision of setting audacious goals, pursuing them relentlessly, and forging a path toward distinction."
McGee believes no one is better prepared to lead the University than Dr. Paul.
91吃瓜网淭his is such an exciting day for 91吃瓜网 with Dr. Paul91吃瓜网 inauguration as the 11th president of our beloved institution,91吃瓜网� McGee said. 91吃瓜网淛oe has been a mentor, advisor, and most of all a friend to me since my days as a student at USM, and I know there are countless others who can say the same.
91吃瓜网淚t is most definitely a day for celebration at 91吃瓜网.91吃瓜网�
Mordica recalled when he was an undergraduate at USM in the 1980s becoming acquainted with Dr. Paul, when the latter was serving as the school91吃瓜网 Dean of Students.
91吃瓜网淚 can say from experience that USM could not have made a better choice for its president,91吃瓜网�
Mordica said. 91吃瓜网淗e always goes above and beyond the call of duty, is a great ambassador
for the University, and has always had the best interests of the University and community
close to his heart.
91吃瓜网淔ew are more dedicated or bleed black and gold like Dr. Paul. I look forward to working with him to keep USM and Forrest County moving forward for many years to come.91吃瓜网�
Dr. Heather Annulis, director of the School of Leadership at USM91吃瓜网 Gulf Park Campus in Long Beach, said the events of the week recognizing Dr. Paul91吃瓜网 investiture 91吃瓜网渃ontinues our excitement and momentum at 91吃瓜网,91吃瓜网� further noting, 91吃瓜网淲e stand behind him with our full support as he leads our institution, including Coastal USM, to the top.91吃瓜网�
Dr. Erin Lambert Dornan, director of communications and operations for USM Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, has worked with Dr. Paul throughout her career at the University. She91吃瓜网 thrilled to see him take the reins as its leader and says she91吃瓜网 witness to a positive and contagious energy at 91吃瓜网 since he took office.
91吃瓜网淚91吃瓜网檓 really excited for the future of our University with Dr. Paul at the helm, and I know he will continue to leave our University better than he found it,91吃瓜网� she said.
Dr. Paul asked those in attendance at the ceremony, and all who love and support the University, to join him in his journey as president to take their school to new and greater heights.
91吃瓜网淭oday, I accept this position with humility and all the positive energy and sense of urgency I can muster,91吃瓜网� he said in conclusion. 91吃瓜网淚t will take all of us, but as I know, together, we are mighty. God bless us all, and God bless 91吃瓜网.91吃瓜网�