E-mail this pageInauguration of President John Ettling
It was a beautiful North Country spring day for John Ettling's inauguration as the tenth president at SUNY Plattsburgh.
Saturday, April 16, 2005 began with more than 1,400 prospective students and their families touring campus as part of Spring Open House. An inaugural luncheon was held in the Algonquin Dining Hall with Dr. Robert Golden, provost and vice president for academic affairs, acting as master of ceremonies.
Then it was on to the inauguration ceremony in the Memorial Hall Gymnasium at 3 p.m. Master of ceremonies Dr. Douglas Skopp, distinguished teaching professor of history and the College's historian, introduced a number of speakers including Elizabeth "Betty" Little, New York state senator; Chris Ortloff, assemblyman; Teresa Sayward, assemblywoman; Robert Butler '72, deputy chair of the Clinton County Legislature; Daniel Stewart, mayor of Plattsburgh; and Dr. Celine Paquette '60, member of the SUNY Board of Trustees.
Thomas Egan, chair of the SUNY Board of Trustees, then gave the charge to the president, and he, along with Trustee Paquette, presented President Ettling with his chain of office.
In his inaugural address, President Ettling said that he was optimistic about the College's future. "I am deeply honored to stand before you today as the 10th president of the College at Plattsburgh," President Ettling said in his address. "That I am only the 10th in 116 years suggests that this fine College has enjoyed an uncommon stability in leadership over the generations, a stability to which all here today hope we have now returned. With your help, we can make it so.
"Thirty or 40 years from now, I would like my successor, whoever she is, to be able to sit down with Mike Cashman (S.A. president) and his classmates - now a bit long in the tooth, but doing quite well for themselves, thank you.
"I would like to hear what Lisa and I have heard in these last several months traveling around the country, meeting many of our alumni for the first time. Both of us are continually struck by how fondly these men and women of substance and accomplishment recall their days here on this campus and how grateful they are to their alma mater for preparing them for their subsequent success."
A public reception was held immediately following the ceremony in the Warren Ballrooms, Angell College Center.
For more photos from inauguration day, click on More Photos or go to
http://web.plattsburgh.edu/president/sunyplattsburghinauguration.php
Contact Information
Office of the President
Office: 159 Hawkins Hall
Address: 101 Broad Street, Plattsburgh, New York 12901
Phone: (518) 564-2010
Fax: (518) 564-3932
E-mail: president_office@plattsburgh.edu