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Wiley College community celebrates inauguration of president

Herman J. Felton Jr. has been in the role since last year but today's ceremony officially started his tenure

TYLER, Texas — On Friday, Wiley College is commemorated the tenure of of their 17th president: Herman J. Felton Jr. 

"Well Wiley College, if you know anything about HBCUs, has a very strong reputation. It is interwoven in the fabric of America," President Felton said. "My predecessor, Dr. Haywood L Strickland, is a very strong well respected administrator and the opportunity to follow in his footsteps to continue the legacy of he and the other presidents, the foundation they’ve built upon is very strong."

Community members, college presidents and elected officials went to the Marshall Convention Center for the investiture ceremony of President Felton. 

He joins Wiley College from Wilberforce University in Ohio and is a Marine Corps veteran. 

While he has already been at the job for almost a year, President Felton says his goal is to make sure that all graduates are well rounded. 

"For 146 years we’ve been a strong liberal arts institution, with a focus, not necessarily intentionally, but with a focus on social good," Felton said. "I really want to formalize that and make sure that our students leave Wiley, the city of Marshall, ready to transform lives by way of social good and leadership with a strong liberal arts education."

Wiley College is also celebrating their founders day this weekend and 146 years of serving students. According to Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Willie L. Todd Jr., that is what makes Wiley so special.

"I think the fact, and many people don’t know this, that Wiley college is the oldest HBCU west of the Mississippi," Dr. Todd said. "In Texas the state where we know based on Juneteenth that they were the last to find out slavery was over, that in 1873 you had a school that was here with an intentional focus on social good and leadership. What that has represented for the Marshall community, east Texas, west Louisiana, and the nation, I think has been amazing."

Friday night the college will host an alumni mixer. Saturday evening there will be a gala with seated dinner and live entertainment. 

For more information on this weekend's events, head to the Wiley College website. 

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