ESU Plans Inauguration of Fourteenth President, Kenneth Long

kenneth long

Posted by: admin on April 21, 2023, No Comments

East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania (ESU) will inaugurate Kenneth Long, M.B.A. as its fourteenth president on April 27, 2023 following a week of special programs and activities to commemorate this historical event.

Festivities begin with a weekend of athletics and the arts as representatives from each of the university’s 22 varsity sports will be present to officially welcome President Long and his family during ESU football’s annual spring game on Saturday, April 22. On Sunday, April 23, ESU’s theatre department will conclude its run of Cabaret, art + media + design students present their senior show, and the Water Gap Jazz Orchestra will perform Basie Straight Ahead.

Inauguration week festivities continue throughout the week with a procession featuring local high school marching bands; meals with students, faculty and staff; a special edition of the Provost Colloquium Series, a student research symposium, guest speakers, and fundraisers.

The theme of President Long’s inauguration is “Creating Opportunities: Community, Engagement and Belonging,” which reflects ESU’s 130-year history of access to affordable education, engagement with the community, and a campus environment where everyone can belong. The week’s events will celebrate a university with great ambition and vision and recognize the many opportunities for growth, success, and achievements of our student body, faculty, and staff.

The Board of Governors for the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education appointed Long president of ESU in November 2022. Long served as interim president since July 2020, upon the retirement of Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D. who had been president since 2012.

The official installation of Long will take place on Thursday, April 27 at 10 a.m. in the Abeloff Center for the Performing Arts at ESU.

Current events planned for inauguration week are listed below. Visit esu.edu/inauguration for any updates to this list.

Saturday, April 22

  • 6:30 – 9:00 p.m., “Red & Black” Spring Football Game and Welcome Celebration, Eiler-Martin Stadium

Sunday, April 23

  • 2:00 – 4:00 p.m., “Cabaret” Theatre, Fine & Performing Arts Center, Smith-McFarland Theatre – Tickets
  • 4:00 – 6:00 p.m., Art + Media + Design Senior Show, Fine & Performing Arts Center, Madelon Powers Gallery
  • 6:00 – 7:30 p.m., Al Cohn Memorial Jazz Concert by Water Gap Jazz Orchestra, Fine & Performing Arts Center, Cecilia S. Cohen Recital Hall – Tickets

Monday, April 24

  • 8:00 – 8:30 a.m., Official Kick-Off Parade, President’s Residence, One College Circle
  • 8:30 – 10:00 a.m., Kick-Off Breakfast for Faculty & Staff, University Center – RSVP
  • 11:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Student Luncheon, Dansbury Commons
  • 5:00 – 6:30 p.m., Alumni Reception, Henry A. Ahnert Alumni Center – RSVP
  • 6:30 – 8:00 p.m., Provost’s Colloquium Series, Beers Lecture Hall

Monday through Wednesday

  • 1:00 – 3:00 p.m., Warrior Food Pantry Collection, University Center, Common Grounds

Tuesday, April 25

  • 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Student Research Symposium, Hoeffner Science & Technology Center, 1st Floor

Wednesday, April 26

  • 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., Stress Less Day, Hoeffner Science & Technology Center, front lobby and outside lawn
  • 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Empty Bowls Fundraiser, Dansbury Commons, P&J’s Restaurant, Purchase Tickets @ Gessner 200
  • 2:00 – 4:00 p.m., Steve Evans, Director of Design & Development, Marvel at Hasbro, Fine & Performing Arts Center, Dale Snow Theatre
  • 5:00 – 9:00 p.m., Inauguration Dinner, Ridgecrest at Stroudsmoor Country Inn – RSVP

Thursday, April 27

Friday, April 28

  • 7:00 – 9:00 p.m., Student Jazz Concert, Fine & Performing Arts Center, Cecilia S. Cohen Recital Hall