Scott inaugurated as 9th president of PSU
Dr. Steven A. Scott
10/23/2009
PSU President Steve Scott gave a special nod to teachers and school administrators on Oct. 23, in his inaugural address as the ninth president of Pittsburg State University. Scott spoke to a crowd of more than 700 who gathered on the lawn in front of Russ Hall for the historic event.
"This afternoon we have over 30 teachers and administrators representing 12 school districts with us, and I want them to know they are appreciated by this institution," Scott said. "We will always see them as partners and colleagues in a system of education. We are in the same business, we share the same values, and we want the same outcomes for our students."
In a speech that referred to his deep family connections with Pittsburg State University, Scott talked about his mother, Avis Parsons Scott, who enrolled at PSU in 1939 and went on to become a music teacher.
"Not only did this institution profoundly affect the life of this young woman," Scott said, "it inherently affected her family and in particular her three sons. What does that mean? It means that I'm now leading an institution that was in many ways responsible for the context of my life."
The president talked about his own experience at PSU as a student and he recalled the professors who influenced his career. Among those he named was Dr. Paul Parker.
"Dr. Parker used to say, 'Young man, you need to go get a doctorate.' Even more importantly, he said, You are capable of doing so.'"
The president spoke of the importance of relationships that develop at Pittsburg State.
"To me, what gives meaning to this place are the relationships that develop in the classrooms, in the laboratories, on the football field, over lunch in Gorilla Crossing, on the Oval, in faculty and departmental offices, on the band practice field, and on the courts and diamonds," Scott said. "Together, we have built and sustained an environment where these relationships flourish, where students and professors grow in their knowledge and skills, and they grow together, forming relationships that last a lifetime."
The university finds itself at this moment in history facing "many, many challenges," Scott said, "But the human spirit relies on the presence of hope. Pittsburg State University must provide that hope, by helping students find their passions, enabling them to articulate their aspirations, and finding ways to help them get there. We must also expand their horizons and have them leaving with even greater dreams for their future than they had upon their arrival. That, in essence is Pittsburg State University."
The president referred again to his own personal experience as a graduate of Pittsburg State University, saying that like more than 55,000 other alumni, his life had been "touched by this place."
"It has, on a number of occasions, through very close personal and professional relationships, altered my aspirations, as an undergraduate student, as a graduate student, as a young assistant professor, as an academic administrator, and now as the university's leader," Scott said. "At each step along the way, my aspirations were elevated and my dreams grew richer. Now my aspirations are no longer personal; they represent aspirations for us all."
The president concluded by sharing his vision for the university. That vision included preserving the university's unique culture, making the university more widely known as "a place of excellence and exceptional academic programs," and positioning the university for a future that will require "innovation, agility, perseverance, and a willingness to adapt to rapid and continuous change."
At the ceremony, speakers representing the faculty, students, classified and unclassified staff, alumni, PSU Foundation, and the City of Pittsburg all brought greetings and good wishes. Jill Docking, chairperson of the Kansas Board of Regents, delivered a charge to the president and placed the university's Presidential Medallion around Scott's neck.
Full text of President Scott's inaugural address
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