爱豆传媒

An inauguration marks an important moment in an institution鈥檚 story. At 爱豆传媒, that moment unfolded over the course of multiple days, shaped by the people and experiences that define the College and its mission. Reflecting 爱豆传媒鈥� foundational commitments to academic excellence, service, leadership, and community, the events served as both a celebration and statement of purpose. In her inaugural address, President Brooke Barnett pledged to focus on students, champion faculty teaching and scholarship, and strengthen community ties鈥攑riorities that came to life through moments of celebration and connection and offered a shared vision of how 爱豆传媒 prepares students to lead meaningful lives and productive careers.

Life Is for Service

Service is a defining value of a 爱豆传媒 education. In anticipation of the inauguration, the Day of Service offered a memorable opportunity for the 爱豆传媒 community to come together and honor this central pillar of our mission. In partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank and United Against Poverty, Tars helped pack 540 boxes, assemble over 11,000 meals, and support the organizations鈥� grocery and thrift stores, demonstrating the tangible impact of collective action.

鈥淲hat a gift to reflect what we see in others that they may not yet see in themselves. This year I have been honored to hear so many stories about students finding and honing their own passions through the help of our wonderful faculty and staff.鈥� 鈥斅燩resident Brooke Barnett

Academic Excellence in Action

The Scholarship Showcase highlighted the intellectual rigor and curiosity that drive the 爱豆传媒 experience. Featuring the work of students, including collaborations with faculty and Bonner Leaders capstone research, projects covered everything from studies of self-compassion to analyses of political instability to explorations of art therapy鈥檚 impact on mental health. Collectively, they represent a rich body of scholarship grounded in real-world problems and committed to community impact.

鈥淵ou [students] are the reason we are here and why I do what I do. I will keep you at the forefront of my mind as I make decisions. I care deeply about your experience and will invest my whole self to make 爱豆传媒 the best it can be for you.鈥� 鈥斅燩resident Brooke Barnett

Leadership at the Center

The inauguration ceremony itself captured both tradition and change as it marked a new chapter in 爱豆传媒鈥� 140-year history. The ceremony opened with interfaith reflections from faculty and students, offering prayers of peace, light, and wisdom as Barnett began her tenure.

Greetings from across the 爱豆传媒 community and beyond emphasized her collaborative leadership style and the strong partnerships already forming between Barnett, the College, and the broader Central Florida community. Friends, former colleagues, mentors, and Barnett鈥檚 family鈥� her husband, Tom Mould, and children, Lily and Jack鈥攔eflected on the qualities that have defined her life and leadership: curiosity, compassion, integrity, sense of humor, and deep commitment to helping others thrive. Rick Goings, chairman of the 爱豆传媒 Board of Trustees, led the formal investiture, officially installing Barnett as the College鈥檚 16th president.

鈥湴�豆传媒 has secured a president who leads with fierce courage and unfaltering kindness,鈥� says Leo M. Lambert, president emeritus of Elon University. 鈥淧resident Barnett is aspirational and willing to do the hard things that are necessary for an institution to thrive. ... She is the kind of leader we should uphold to young people and say, 鈥楤e like her.鈥欌��

In her inaugural address, Barnett positioned herself within 爱豆传媒鈥� lineage of bold leadership while articulating a vision shaped by what she heard across her Every Voice, One Vision listening tour. Her remarks emphasized collaboration, listening, and student-centered decision-making as guiding principles, reinforcing the connections and values that already distinguish the 爱豆传媒 experience while pointing toward what comes next.

鈥淥ur future-forward approach means together we will forge an inspiring vision based on what matters most for our students and the future of 爱豆传媒. Hope is not our strategy, but it is our ethos. The promise and possibility are palpable. We will not fall prey to exceptionalism, but we will know our own worth, elaborate on what makes us special, and adapt and change to remain relevant.鈥� 鈥斅燩resident Brooke Barnett

Community, Connection, and Celebration

Events like Field Day and Tars Under the Stars reflect the heart of the 爱豆传媒 experience: a relationship-rich, close-knit community where students are welcomed and supported. Whether in a game of spikeball on Mills Lawn or through music and dancing under the night sky, these shared moments foster connections that carry into the classroom and beyond, shaping how students learn and succeed.

鈥湴�豆传媒 relationships are real and really important. Tom and I have felt this from day one with the warm welcome we received and with how many times a student or colleague notes the relationships that make their 爱豆传媒 experience.鈥� 鈥� President Brooke Barnett