Grambling State celebrates new era of leadership with investiture of Dr. Martin Lemelle, Jr.
University’s 11th president pledges to lead institution to bigger, bolder future
An air of pomp and circumstance infused with “GramFam love” made for an electric atmosphere inside the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center Friday morning as an investiture ceremony for Grambling State University’s (GSU) 11th president, Dr. Martin Lemelle Jr., was held.
GSU Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Connie Walton presided over the ceremony, which was attended by numerous dignitaries from the state of Louisiana as well as across the country, including former Grambling State presidents Dr. Raymond Hicks, Dr. Leonard Haynes III, Dr. Cynthia Warrick, Dr. Willie D. Larkin, Rick Gallot, Walton, who served as GSU interim president in early 2024 until Lemelle took charge of the university in April.
The program opened with remarks from city of Grambling Mayor Alvin R. Bradley Sr., Louisiana Commissioner of Higher Education Dr. Kum Hunter Reed, Southwestern Athletic Conference Commissioner Dr. Charles McClelland, Grambling University Foundation Chair Dr. Janet D. Barnes and Grambling University National Alumni Association President Dr. Tammy Richardson.
Reed pointed out that Lemelle has not only taken over the reins of his alma mater but the alma mater of his grandparents and parents as well.
“He knows the hopes, dreams and fears of his students,” Reed said. “He is here to support his faculty and staff as they pour into their scholars. His doors are open wide to collaborate with everyone and ensure student success, and he understands the power of telling the Grambling story across the state, across the nation, and around the globe to continue to promote all things excellent.”
Barnes called Lemelle a new contractor to lift Grambling State University to greater heights than ever before.
“Yes, he’s a dreamer,” Barnes said. “But look at his reality. He dreamt, and now he is our president. Yes, he is young, but check out his bio, his curricula. Yes, this is his first time being a president. But I assure you as the Methodists say he’s been dipped, dunked, and baptized.
“He is president. This is just formality.”
Richardson said the occasion marked the beginning of a new chapter of GSU’s legacy.
“Dr. Lemelle represents the very best of what Grambling stands for — excellence, leadership and a deep commitment to the success of our students and the community at large,” Richardson said. “He has the deep responsibility of carrying on the legacy of our founder, Charles P. Adams, and all the legends who led the esteemed institution after.
“Today marks the beginning of a new chapter for Grambling State University — a chapter filled with promise and opportunity. Under Dr. Lemelle’s leadership, we are confident that the university will continue to flourish, reach new heights in academic achievement, innovation and global impact.”
The Campus Speaks Out
Campus representatives speaking during the ceremony included GSU Faculty Senate President Dr. Gary Pow, Miss Grambling State University Jess’Lyn D. Sanders, Student Government Association President Morgan L. Patton and GSU Graduate Student Association President Tiara Freeman.
“Grambling State University is the ‘Place Where Everybody Is Somebody,’ and Dr. Lemelle, you are now THE somebody,” Poe said as he began his remarks. You have all of us in your hands. You’re like our parent. I became a parent in 2005, and you were still in the last days of your (undergraduate) education. You were the SGA president. I watched him graduate and later come back and work with President Gallot. And I remember meeting him at that time and thinking to myself, his guy is really something. This guy sees things that others don’t. And that’s the mark that I want to see in a leader. I want him to see things no one else sees and I want him to encourage us to aspire to reach it.
“And then I sat on his (presidential) search committee. And we saw some incredible people. But when we sat down and made our decision, and I can’t really reveal anything about all of that, you can see that the cream rose to the top and he’s here right now.”
Lemelle’s “Village” Shows Their Support
Then came remarks from Lemelle’s “Village” — former GSU classmate and current President and CEO of Huston Tillotson University Dr. Melva K. Wallace, lifelong friend Mrs. Max Ferguson, family member Dannelle Lemelle Crowe and 13-year-old cousin Paityn Alexander Bibbins.
Wallace urged “GramFam” to unite in support of GSU’s 11th president.
“It is time we get like the World Famed (GSU Marching Tiger Band) and become one band and one sound behind one president, Dr. Martin Lemelle,” Wallace said. “He belongs to us. He is our president, and we are proud.
“But I caution us. We cannot slack up down the road. We’re here today at the inauguration where we scream “Josana, Josana,” or Matin, Martin. Don’t let us lose five football games in a row and start yelling, ‘crucify, crucify!’
Wallace also added a little levity to the proceedings.
“Let me be the first to say that Martin is not perfect. He is sometimes too cerebral, annoyingly positive, tends to overwork, and unfortunately has a sincere appreciation and the discipline to maintain a vegan diet in the Creole country of Louisiana. Yes, you heard it from me, Dr. Martin Lemelle is not perfect, but he is perfect for this job.”
Crowe caught the attention of the audience with the announcement of an endowed scholarship in the Lemelle family’s name.
“Excellence is not an accident,” she said. “It is always the work of high intention, sincere effort, and intelligent execution. … This moment is not by happenstance. The youngest ever HBCU president named the president of his alma mater at the age of 39, exactly 20 years to the day of becoming SGA president. Not by chance, by choice. Dr. Martin Lemelle Jr. chose excellence.
“We are proud of you, Sir Martin. We love you and we support you. As a Lemelle and as an alumnus of this illustrious university, I’m proud. Dare I say I’m ‘GramFam’ proud? And as a sign of support, I’m excited to establish the Lemelle Endowed Scholarship Fund with a personal investment of $50,000.”
Crowe said the Lemelle Endowed Scholarship Fund will have an initial fee of $100,000 to encourage the same spirit of excellence among our students. To celebrate the legacy of our family, learning and leading at Grambling State University for generations, and to commemorate this moment.
Bibbins gave the most memorable and inspiring remarks of the day, presenting a remarkably composed and thought-out speech sprinkled with touches of humor and love before becoming choked up at the very end in a show of sincere admiration and respect for her older cousin.
Formal Investiture Begins
The actual formal investiture ceremony itself then began, with Gallot’s role to give the official charge and presentation of the presidential chain of office.
But Gallot began by momentarily detouring off script by recognizing University of Louisiana Board of Supervisors members in attendance as well as other presidents from the ULS.
He felt he had good reason to do so.
“I really wasn’t planning to introduce them, I just needed to put a little space between me and ‘The Village,’” Gallot said. “Paityn is an impossible act to follow.”
And before returning to the “official script” of the investiture, Gallot had a special person he wanted to thank.
“As much as has been said today about (Lemelle’s) accomplishments, I will have to tell you that as I prepared to step into this role as he has done, there was one call I had to make to a certain business guy in Washington D.C. named Martin Lemelle, Jr. to ask if he would join me on this journey. I knew in my heart and in my spirit I needed someone like Martin to help us move Grambling State University forward.
“So as much as I guess I was the public face of the public success of this university over the last seven years, it would not have been possible without having him as CEO and executive vice president and CFO. So Martin, I want to thank you for making us successful over the last seven years.”
President Lemelle’s Investiture Address
During his investiture address, Lemelle thanked all Gramblinites who came before him.
“We gather today to speak our vision, to build upon our foundation laid strong and true, brick by brick, by those who came before,” Lemelle said. “I stand before you both honored and humbled, grateful for the trust you have placed in me, grateful for the legacy that lifts us and for the hand that held us up when we needed strength, when we needed love, when we needed hope, when we needed to be reminded that we are the continuation of a powerful story — the next verse in a brilliant song.”
And he looked toward the future.
“We are visionaries, born of visionaries who were born of visionaries,” Lemelle said. “We speak today of a future where Grambling stands tall, a leader in education, innovation, and service. From a single building to a campus that spans acres, from a local institution to a global leader in education, we are Grambling, committed to operational excellence, student success, to innovation, and global engagement.
“From every graduate who crosses our stage, to every groundbreaking initiative we undertake, we are building a future that yes, honors our past, celebrates our present and prepares us for the limitless possibilities ahead.”
Investing In Education Beyond the Classroom
Lemelle then announced the establishment of another family scholarship he has created.
“Today, I’m excited to announce a bold, new initiative anchored by my family that shows our commitment to expanding the horizons of our students and strengthening our impact globally,” Lemelle said. “We have established a global, experiential education endowment with a goal of raising $1 million over the next five years.
“This endowment, through the Grambling University Foundation, will support transformative learning experiences, both here and abroad, ensuring our students are equipped with the skills and perspective needed in a rapidly-evolving world. Together we will create pathways for our students that are not confined by the border of our campus but extend to the far reaches of the globe.”
Lemelle then asked the audience to see themselves in his vision.
“Your contribution, your advocacy, and your passion are what will turn this vision into reality,” Lemelle said. “Let us be bold in our giving, bold in our dreaming, and bold in our building for a future that knows no limits.
“As a testament to my commitment to this vision, and to the future of Grambling State University, I am personally pledging $100,000 toward this endowment. I invite each of you — our alumni, friends, partners, and supporters to join me in this effort. Together we can provide our students with unparalleled opportunities to learn, to grow, and to lead on a global stage.”