Ferrum College celebrated the inauguration of its twelfth president, David L. Johns, Ph.D., on Friday, October 19 at 10 a.m. in Vaughn Chapel on campus. The ceremony was attended by college and university delegates, educational association representatives, Ferrum College Board of Trustees members, and other honored guests and dignitaries, as well as hundreds of students, faculty, staff, and other community members.

The ceremony began with a welcome from Chair of the Ferrum College Board of Trustees, Phyllis Karavatakis ’76, who acknowledged those who served the institution since its founding in 1913, and those leading the College into its future. Rev. Anna Woofenden, visiting pastor of peace and spirituality of the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Mount Vernon, Ohio, offered the invocation which highlighted the spirit of community, noting, “we are not alone in this work.”

Greetings were then offered by Ferrum College’s international students with additional welcoming remarks from other members of the College community including Lawrence Baranski ’19, Student Government Association president; Christine Stinson, Ph.D., chair of Faculty Council and associate professor of accounting; Yvonne Walker ’99, registrar; Ronald Singleton ’70, president of the Alumni Association Board of Directors; Rathin Basu, Ph.D., professor of economics; Aimé Sposato, D.M.A, provost; and Rev. Jan Nicholson Angle, Ph.D., dean of chapel and religious life. Zach Wimmer, financial advisor at Edward Jones Investments and chair of Franklin County Connects, spoke of Franklin County’s community resources, calling the county “one big, small town.”

In an emotional video message, Johns’ longtime friend Joseph Manickam, Ph.D., president of Hesston College, gave practical advice to Johns, urging him to continue to take time to learn, enjoy his wife and family, find support from faculty, staff and the community, and enjoy the blessing of the journey.

President of the Appalachian College Association, Beth Rushing, Ph.D., gave the keynote address that highlighted the value of collaboration for the future of small liberal arts colleges like Ferrum College. “Collaboration requires strong leadership, someone to encourage others to work together, to create the conditions within which collaboration can flourish. David Johns is that kind of leader,”  said Rushing, who  then pledged, “The Appalachian College Association stands ready to facilitate your work as we work together, in a thoughtful and committed way, to continue the tremendous mission of Ferrum College.”

Johns’ son, Cameron Johns, brought a personal profile of the president, stating that as a child, he “always knew he was loved,” and drawing laughter from the audience as he described how his father would detour family vacations for hours to visit area colleges to learn all he could.  Johns’ youngest step-daughter, Madolin Yoshikane, spoke of extending an invitation to play Polly Pockets with her step-father at age 10 in the earliest days of their relationship, which eventually grew to one steeped in late-night philosophical talks about life.

In her introduction of the president, Sposato described Johns as inspirational, decisive, fair-minded, approachable, and a “fearless change-maker.”  As Johns rose for installation, he received a standing ovation from the audience. Chair of the Ferrum College Board of Trustees, Phyllis Karavatakis, installed Johns and after presenting the Ferrum College Medallion, placed it around his neck.

During his inaugural address, Johns shared a resounding theme of hope, expansion, and the responsibility to live out Ferrum College’s motto of “Not Self, But Others.” He spoke of having a background similar to that of many Ferrum College students, as he was a first-generation student that required financial aid to attend a small private institution in northwest Ohio. “The kind of education that has the power to transform is the kind that gets its hands dirty, the kind that digs into the challenges of our world, and breaks itself open in the face of human need. That’s what we strive to do here,” Johns said, also highlighting Ferrum College’s intent to offer graduate programs and a nursing program in the near future.

Johns also spoke of the importance of stewarding creation, both environmentally and in community partnership. “In this vision of where we are going as a College, opportunity means much more than seizing those that present themselves. I see our students becoming creators of opportunity; I see them being imaginative, innovative, and entrepreneurial. This region needs the intelligence and commitment our students can bring to it,” said Johns.

In his closing, Johns shared his excitement about the future of Ferrum College. “I am enthusiastic about the future of Ferrum College, and I hope you are too,” he said. “With passion, imagination, hard work, and the grace of God, anything is possible. We have a history we can be proud of, we have a legacy of service to our community which is inspiring. And, we have a future we can all believe in.”

Following Johns’ inauguration, the community celebrated with on-campus festivities hosted by Ferrum College, including the Ferrum Family Festival featuring a homecoming parade, food trucks, children’s activities, and live music by the Twin Creeks Stringband and The Blue Crawdads. The evening concluded with fireworks and s’mores.

Read more about Johns’ inauguration in The Roanoke Times and The Franklin News-Post.

See additional event photographs here.

Ferrum College will celebrate the inauguration of its twelfth president, David L. Johns, Ph.D., on Friday, October 19 at 10 a.m.  The ceremony will be held in Vaughn Chapel located on the College’s campus.  Phyllis Karavatakis ’76, chair of the Ferrum College Board of Trustees, will install Johns.   Beth Rushing, president of the Appalachian College Association, will bring the keynote address. The ceremony may be watched streaming live online here.

Johns became president of Ferrum College on January 1, 2018.  Prior to arriving at the College, he served as vice president for academic affairs and dean of college at Union College in Kentucky.

To celebrate this historic moment, Ferrum College invites members of the College, community and Ferrum alumni to join in the festivities surrounding the inauguration. These events begin on Thursday evening, October 18, when the College hosts Rev. Anna Woofenden, visiting pastor of peace and spirituality at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Mount Vernon, Ohio, as part of the Rev. Dr. Wasena F. Wright, Jr. ’60 and Mrs. Patricia G. Wright Endowed Lecture Series. She will speak about “Food and Faith: Conversations from the Soil and Around the Table” at 7 p.m. in the Panther’s Den located in lower Franklin Hall on campus. This event is free and open to the public.

Following the inauguration on Friday, October 19, the community is invited to participate in a family-friendly bike tour hosted by Ferrum Outdoors at 1 p.m.  Also at 1 p.m., the 27^th Annual Corron Classic Panther Open Golf Tournament will commence at Great Oaks Country Club in Floyd.  Registration at www.ferrum.edu/homecoming is required for both events.

Community members are also invited to bring a lawn chair and enjoy the following outside events that are free and do not require registration:  The Homecoming parade will process down Wiley Drive on campus beginning at 4 p.m., followed by food trucks and children’s activities, plus live music by Twin Creeks Stringband at 5:15 p.m. and The Blue Crawdads at 7 p.m.  Fireworks over Adams Lake at 9 p.m. will conclude the evening’s events with s’mores immediately following outside Stanley Library.

Homecoming and Family Weekend festivities will continue on Saturday, October 20, with reunions, tailgating, and a 4 p.m. football game showcasing the Ferrum College Panthers versus the Washington and Lee Generals at W.B. Adams Stadium.  Football game tickets are available at the gate for $10 cash only.  The weekend festivities will conclude with a 9:30 a.m. worship service at Saint James United Methodist Church in Ferrum on Sunday, October 21.

For more information regarding Dr. Johns’ inauguration, Rev. Woofenden’s presentation, Homecoming events, and to register for events, please visit www.ferrum.edu/homecoming or call the Alumni Office at 540-365-4216.

For more information regarding Dr. Johns’ inauguration, Rev. Woofenden’s presentation, Homecoming events, and to register for events, please click here or call the Alumni Office at 540-365-4216.

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More information about Dr. Johns: Johns graduated from Malone University in Canton, Ohio in 1985, then earned an M.A. in Theology from the Earlham School of Religion, an M.L.S. from Kent State University, and a Ph.D. in Theology from Duquesne University in 1999.  He taught at Wilmington College and the Earlham School of Religion; worked as a college chaplain and an academic librarian; lectured at the Universidad Iberoamericana in Puebla, Mexico, the Instituto de Jorge Fox in Ocotepeque, Honduras; and was a scholar-in-residence at the Centro de Estudios Ecuménicos in Mexico City. 

Ferrum College will host Rev. Anna Woofenden as part of the Rev. Dr. Wasena F. Wright, Jr. and Mrs. Patricia G. Wright Endowed Lecture Series on October 18 at 7 p.m. in the Panther’s Den on campus.  Rev. Woofenden’s presentation, “Food and Faith: Conversations from the Soil and Around the Table,” is free and open to the public.

According to her website, Rev. Woofenden strives to “re-imagine church as an interconnected organism, worshiping, loving, and serving together while transforming a plot of land into a vibrant urban farm and sanctuary.”  She is a proponent of the “food and faith movement” with an emphasis on liturgy and entrepreneurial ministry.

Currently of Saratoga Springs, NY, Rev. Woofenden is the founder of  The Garden Church and Feed and Be Fed Farm in San Pedro, CA.  She is now consulting, teaching, writing, speaking, and coaching across the country and recently began “The Food and Faith Podcast.”  She serves as the visiting pastor of peace and spirituality at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Mt. Vernon, OH.

The late Rev. Dr. Wasena F. “Buddy” Wright, Jr. was a 1960 graduate of Ferrum College, a recipient of the College’s highest alumni honor, the Benjamin M. Beckham Medallion, and a member of the College’s Board of Trustees.  Rev. Wright served in United Methodist churches throughout the Virginia Conference, including his last pastorate as a senior pastor of Annandale United Methodist Church (UMC).  He was Council Director for the Virginia Conference of the UMC until his death in July of 2003.  Through gifts from Rev. Wright, his family and many friends, an endowment was created to assist Ferrum College students pursuing church-related vocations in study abroad, and to establish a biannual lecture series to bring prominent theologians, authors and scholars to the campus.

Rev. Woofenden’s lecture comes as a lead-up event to the inauguration of the College’s twelfth president, David L. Johns, Ph.D., which takes place on October 19 at 10 a.m. in Vaughn Chapel on campus.  Festivities following the inauguration include food trucks, children’s activities, live music and fireworks.  Click here to learn more.