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A son of Mother Tuskegee has officially come home to lead the university as its first alumnus president.
Tuskegee University formally installed Dr. Mark A. Brown ‘86 as its 10th President and Chief Executive Officer during an investiture ceremony on Friday at the General Daniel “Chappie” James Arena. Norma B. Clayton, chair of the Tuskegee Board of Trustees and retired vice president at The Boeing Company, presided over the investiture ceremony.
“Today we mark a new chapter in the Tuskegee story, one written by the hand of a leader who has walked these very halls, worn the crimson and gold and now returns to guide us into our next renaissance,” said Chair Clayton.
“The Board of Trustees is 100 percent committed to ensuring that Tuskegee thrives in this new era. We stand united behind Dr. Brown as we march confidently into our future.”
During his inaugural address, Dr. Brown described his vision of that future as Tuskegee’s Renaissance Era. Paying homage to the nine presidents who came before him, he highlighted how all of their greatest achievements are connected – all resulted from an urgent need to address challenges specific to their time and all reflect Tuskegee’s enduring legacy of making higher education more accessible, creating measurable change for members of underserved communities, and training graduates who solve the world’s most complex problems.
“Now, here we stand, at our time, in this season, at this investiture because we know the world still needs Tuskegee and Tuskegee needs the world,” he said. “This Renaissance Era is the will to fight on.”
Dr. Brown shared his vision for carrying this torch forward with a focus on reducing or eliminating the burden of student loan debt, enhancing the student experience by modernizing campus facilities and residences, and increasing academic curriculum available at Tuskegee in fields of study where professionals are most in demand such as in aviation, agricultural science, nursing, veterinary medicine and AI technology.
He mentioned the university’s goals to raise funds to support construction of housing in Skegee Village, developing the Herman J. Russell Parkway in honor of the renown Atlanta developer and his son, Trustee H.J. Russell Jr., the plans for the Lonnie Johnson Research and Innovation Center through a partnership with alumnus Dr. Lonnie Johnson and how the new Students First initiative is working to keep students on track with resources for their academic success. He also celebrated the new Aviation Science degree program, congratulating those who have already received their private licenses and highlighted the new generation of aviators including the Tuskegee Airwomen.
“Here we come, America,” he said. “Here we come!” Rows of Aviation students sat to his left in branded black polos united in their pride and ambition.
The ceremony also included remarks from the honorable Lawrence Haygood, mayor of Tuskegee, Dr. Michael Lomax, president and CEO of the United Negro College Fund, and Darrell K. Williams, president of Hampton University, where Booker T. Washington once was a student.
“We wish you continued success in this next glorious age of Tuskegee, your innovations, your research, your trumpeting the cause of our community and for America,” said President Williams. “As our founders stood shoulder to shoulder to advance the cause of education, Hampton continues to stand with Tuskegee. And I stand with you.”
The ceremony also included an acknowledgement from Gov. Kay Ivey, declaring Friday Tuskegee University Inauguration Day in the state of Alabama. Supporters who could not be present recorded videos congratulating Dr. Brown. This included Good Morning America host and Tuskegee native Robin Roberts, Tuskegee’s own Lionel Richie, basketball legend and entrepreneur Irvin Magic Johnson whose partnership Sodexo-Magic now provides food service on campus, along with Philanthropist Robert F. Smith, who leads the Student Freedom Initiative.
“You chose well,” Morgan State University President Dr. David Wilson ‘77 told the Board of Trustees. “Dr. Brown is a remarkable leader and an extraordinary son of Tuskegee. I have every confidence he will meet the demands of the moment.”
In addition to members of the Board, podium guests also included student leader and president of the SGA Lauryn Montgomery, Rev. James Quincy, president of the Tuskegee National Alumni Association, the president of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Lucien Metellus, and Attorney Milton Davis who spoke of how Booker T. Washington once pawned his watch in Montgomery to raise funds for Tuskegee and implored supporters to offer that same commitment today.
Friday’s inauguration ceremony opened a weekend of activities celebrating Dr. Brown. A golf tournament was held on Saturday, the black-tie gala Saturday night featuring the O’Jays and an Ecumenical Service on Sunday morning will round out the festivities.
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