I stand before you today, living on the inside of answered prayers. The prayers of my ancestors who bear witness to this moment in spirit, the prayers of our founder Charles P. Adams, who, on the encouragement of Booker T. Washington, left Tuskegee to establish what we proudly call today, Grambling State University. 

Yes, we are living on the inside of answered prayers, and I am humbled to be a vessel for this work. 

Pearl Cleage, in her brilliant poem, We Speak Your Name" invoked the power of our ancestors, to speak life into the legacies we inherit, and to remind us of the strength that comes from knowing who we are and whose we are, that spirit shines brightly today.  

Because we are a community of leaders, born of leaders, who are born of leaders, we gather here today to honor our past and to celebrate the promise of our future. 

From the Colored Industrial and Agricultural School in 1901, to the Lincoln Parish Training School in 1918, to the Louisiana Negro Normal and Industrial Institute in 1928, we are Grambling. We have a story to tell, and the world continues to speak our name. 

From a state junior college providing basic education, to Grambling College in 1946, offering a broader horizon, to Grambling State University in 1974, standing tall and proud, we are Grambling, a beacon of light, a story unfolding, and the world continues to speak our name. 

Because we are a family of dreamers, born of dreamers, who are born of dreamers, we gather here today to speak our vision, to build upon a foundation laid strong and true, brick by brick, by those who came before. 

I stand before you, honored and humbled, grateful for the trust you have placed in me, grateful for the legacy that lifts us, and for the hands that held us up when we needed strength, when we needed hope, when we needed to be reminded that we are the continuation of a powerful story, the next verse in a song that started long ago. 

From a young student at Alma J. Brown inspired by my parents' call to "achieve excellence through service," to the leader standing before you today, I am here because we are a community, a tapestry woven with threads of perseverance, with the colors of resilience and strength. 

I am here today in part because of a pivotal moment in 2016, when President Gallot called and invited me to join his team. What started as one role eventually grew into three, each filled with opportunities to learn, to grow, and to lead. I am forever grateful for the trust he placed in me, for the way he shared space and empowered me to step into each new challenge. 

President Gallot didn’t just offer me new responsibilities—he invested in me, as he does with so many of us, nurturing the next generation of leaders with wisdom, generosity, and an unwavering belief in our potential. His legacy is not just in his accomplishments but in the lives, he has touched and the futures he has helped shape. 

Because of leaders like him, I stand here today, ready to continue the work of building and inspiring, always remembering that leadership is about creating space for others to rise. 

I am here because this is a place where futures are forged, where every classroom, every program, every event is an opportunity to shape the leaders of tomorrow. We are Grambling, and we have a legacy of transforming lives.  

From a small, determined faculty teaching under one roof, to a global community of scholars and students, from lessons in life and labor to a diverse curriculum that spans the globe, we are Grambling, ever evolving, ever growing, and the world continues to speak our name. 

From our humble beginnings, where dreams were nurtured with care, to becoming a leading institution known for its excellence and inclusion, we are here because Grambling State University is more than a place; it is an idea—a powerful idea that has inspired generations 

From a handful of students to thousands walking these halls, from local roots to international recognition, we are Grambling, where every step is a step toward greatness, and the world continues to speak our name. 

From the opening of the First Digital Library at an HBCU, we said to the world, "Tell them we’re building." Building a future where knowledge flows like a mighty river, where every student, every scholar, every seeker of truth can drink deeply and grow strong. 

From the groundbreaking of the Student Success Center, we declared, “Tell them we’re building.” Building a place where dreams are nurtured, where futures are forged, where every step forward is a step toward greatness. 

From brick and mortar to digital realms, from traditional classrooms to spaces where innovation thrives, we are Grambling, where history and progress dance together like the Orchesis, and the world continues to speak our name. 

Because we are visionaries, born of visionaries, who are born of visionaries, we speak today of a future where Grambling stands tall, a leader in education, in innovation, in 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, to 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 honors our past, celebrates our present, and prepares us for the limitless possibilities ahead. 

Today, I am excited to announce a bold new initiative anchored by family that reflects our commitment to expanding the horizons of our students and strengthening our impact globally. We have established a Global and 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 perspectives needed in a rapidly evolving world. 

Together, we will create pathways for our students that are not confined by the borders of our campus but extend to the far reaches of the globe. I urge every one of you—our alumni, friends, partners, and supporters—to see yourselves in this mission. Your contributions, your advocacy, and your passion are what will turn this vision into reality. 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. 

From faculty who inspire and guide, to students who challenge themselves and grow, from alumni who give back and support, to partners who join us in our mission, we are Grambling, united in our efforts, collective in our strength, and the world continues to speak our name. 

Let us unite in our shared mission, let us lift our collective voice and, “Tell them we’re building.” Building a future that reflects the values and aspirations of our community, a future that is ours to create. 

I am committed to serving Grambling State University with dedication, vision, and an unwavering belief in our collective potential. We are builders, born of builders, who are born of builders. We will continue to build, to dream, to lead, to inspire. 

From the past that has shaped us to the future that awaits us, we are Grambling, and we will go forward with courage and faith, with a steadfast commitment to excellence and a shared determination. 

We are here today to honor what was, to celebrate what is, and to envision what can be. 

Let us fight for dear ole Grambling, knowing that with every step we take, we are writing a new chapter in our storied history—a chapter filled with innovation, growth, and excellence. Let us build, let us dream, and let us rise together, as one, speaking the name of Grambling State University with pride, with purpose, and with passion. 

We speak your name, Grambling State University. We speak your name. 

Thank you.