“WE MUST THINK BIG, DREAM BIG AND ACHIEVE OUR GOALS. CENTRAL STATE UNIVERSITY, IF OUR DREAMS DON’T SCARE US, THEY ARE NOT BIG ENOUGH!”
As he was teaching himself how to read and write, Frederick Douglass, a formerly enslaved person, kept stumbling over one monolith of mystery — why is it that while many will pray for change for twenty years (and the evil institution of slavery that once limited the best-kept secret in the world’s history from its due: the United States Constitution), only some will recognize that change, it happens eventually: This mainly occurs when you pray with your legs. And the crucial puzzle piece: That fire that started to kindle within his spiritual being and physical body as a self-educated black boy who later became a giant among men, black or white.
The same fire that kindled in Douglass, which made him the most photographed man in the 19th century, is the fire that kindles in Central State University President Jack Thomas, whose inauguration address earned standing ovations from the audience earlier this month as some of his family, friends, and loved ones who had come from far and near watched in attendance. Others unable to join him that day for this particular occasion instead watched virtually.
Born to godly parents that could not get a formal education because they had to work in the fields and lived through the tumultuous battles of civil rights, Thomas compared himself to many of the honorees that Friday, March 4th: He too was a first-generation college student. Thomas grew up on a farm in Calhoun, a small community in Lowndes County, Alabama (which sits between Selma and Montgomery, Alabama). Of one of his earliest memories of his mother, who is no longer with us physically, he told the audience that he remembers her saying:
“Son, I want you to finish high school and college. Someone has to do something a little different from what your father and I have done.”
Through his mother’s encouragement, the CSU leader shared that he began to excel in his studies. He continues:
“I want to dedicate this address to honor my mother, who passed away several years ago. She is symbolized in the audience today by a bouquet of roses, carried in by an usher during the procession. Mom, I know that you are smiling down on me! My father taught me the importance of a strong work ethic. My mother has passed away, but my father still lives on the family farm. Central State University, I acknowledge the solid foundation and values instilled in me by my parents. Let’s honor my parents with a round of applause.”
Observing the pandemic challenges that rocked the entire world, Thomas mentioned how he had to remain steadfast, long-suffering, meek, kind, and humble as we all prayed for better days on our blocks. He adds:
“When I accepted the position as the 9th President of Central State University in February of 2020, I had no idea that I would be starting my tenure during a worldwide pandemic. In my previous transition, I rose from Provost to President within the same organization. I began that presidency by reviewing the university budget, developing a strategic plan, and meeting alumni and community stakeholders. Here, I started with Zoom meetings conference calls and by making difficult decisions about small classes, wearing face coverings, testing and vaccinations, and by wondering if we would ever return to normal. I am proud to say that we are still standing, poised, and prepared to take Central State University to unimaginable heights of academic excellence!
Central State students, faculty and staff enjoyed a tremendous 135th Charter Day celebration. Thomas recalls that this was the first traditional Charter Day held since his arrival on campus. He reflected on how fortunate he is to be surrounded by excellent students and committed faculty and staff:
“I then paused again back in my office following Charter Day and thought of how all of us kept pushing past all obstacles. We all kept working; we kept answering phones; we kept raising money; we kept processing applications; we kept teaching; we kept enrolling students; we kept processing financial aid forms; we kept cleaning and sanitizing; we kept giving, and we kept providing wrap-around services under challenging circumstances. In the words of Langston Hughes, our lives over the past two years “ain’t been no crystal stair,” but we stayed connected, composed, and committed to Central State University and students. I stand before you today, a proud President. Proud of the sacrifices we all have made and proud that we have all made it back to this point. Please give our resilient students, staff, and faculty a round of applause! I know that it has not been easy. There have been many changes, but we are here. We are thankful and blessed.”
Check out the full inauguration address by CSU Prez Jack Thomas below.
“To Chairman Hatcher, other members of the University Board of Trustees, my fellow Presidents, other distinguished guests, University Leadership Team, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and to my family, friends, and loved ones who have come from far and near – thank you for your presence! I especially want to thank my wife, Linda, and our sons Patrick and Darius (please stand to be recognized). My father, Mr. Clinton Thomas, Sr., my sister Helen Thomas Bell, and my brother Mr. Marshall Clifford Thomas were unable to join me today for this occasion, but I know they are with me watching virtually.
I would also like to acknowledge the eight presidents who came before me. We stand on their contributions and take great pride in being a part of the Central State tradition:
President Charles H. Wesley
President Harry E. Groves
President Dr. Herman R. Branson
President Dr. Lewis A. Jackson
President Lionel H. Newsom
President Emeritus Arthur E. Thomas
President Emeritus John W. Garland
President Emeritus Cynthia Jackson-Hammond
I am incredibly humbled and honored to serve as the ninth President of Central State University and I am reminded of one of my favorite passages from Dr. Benjamin E. Mays, a Baptist minister, and former President of Morehouse College, which reads:
“The tragedy of life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach. It isn’t a calamity to die with dreams unfulfilled, but it is a calamity not to dream. It is not a disgrace not to reach the stars, but it is a disgrace to have no stars to reach for. Not failure, but low aim is sin.”
As I mentioned on Charter Day and I’ll say it again today, we must think big, dream big and achieve our goals. Central State University, if our dreams don’t scare us, then they are not big enough!
On Monday evening, I attended a reception held to recognize our Charter Day honorees. Each honoree was asked to reflect on the question, “If not for Central State, where would I be?” I was inspired by their stories and found that we have much more in common than any of us expected. I discovered that like many of our honorees, I too was a first-generation college student. I grew up on a farm in Calhoun, a small community in Lowndes County, Alabama (which sits between Selma and Montgomery, Alabama). My parents were not able to get a formal education because they had to work in the fields and lived through the tumultuous battles of civil rights. I can remember my mother saying “Son, I want you to finish high school and go to college. Someone has to do something a little different from what your father and I have done.” Through my mother’s encouragement, I began to excel in my studies. I want to dedicate this address in honor of my mother, who passed away several years ago. She is symbolized in the audience today by a bouquet of roses, carried in by an usher during the procession. Mom, I know that you are smiling down on me! My father taught me the importance of a strong work ethic. My mother has since passed away, but my father still lives on the family farm. Central State University, I acknowledge the solid foundation and values instilled in me by my parents. Let’s honor my parents with a round of applause.
When I accepted the position as the 9th President of Central State University in February of 2020, I had no idea that I would be starting my tenure during a worldwide pandemic. In my previous transition, I rose from Provost to President within the same organization. I began that presidency by reviewing the university budget, developing a strategic plan, and meeting alumni and community stakeholders. Here, I began with Zoom meetings, conference calls, and by making heavy decisions about remote classes, wearing face coverings, testing and vaccinations, and by wondering if we would ever return to normal. I am proud to say that we are still standing, poised, and prepared to take Central State University to unimaginable heights of academic excellence!
On Tuesday, as we enjoyed a tremendous 135th Charter Day celebration, I recall that this was the first traditional Charter Day held since my arrival on campus. I reflected on how fortunate I am to be surrounded by excellent students and such committed faculty and staff. I then paused again back in my office following Charter Day and thought of how all of us kept pushing passed all obstacles. We all kept working; we kept answering phones; we kept raising money; we kept processing applications; we kept teaching; we kept enrolling students; we kept processing financial aid forms; we kept cleaning and sanitizing; we kept giving; and we kept providing wrap around services under challenging circumstances. In the words of Langston Hughes, our lives over the past two years “ain’t been no crystal stair,” but we stayed connected, composed, and committed to Central State University and to students. I stand before you today, a proud President. Proud of the sacrifices we all have made and proud that we have all made it back to this point. Please give our resilient students, staff, and faculty a round of applause! I know that it has not been easy. There have been many changes, but we are here. We are thankful and blessed.
As President, I embrace the mission, the legacy, and the rich traditions of this University. I am a graduate of two 1890 Land Grant Universities, Alabama A & M and Virginia State Universities, and I have held positions at two 1890 Land Grant Universities. My connection and experience with such institutions have uniquely positioned me to understand and appreciate the work that lies ahead. I am impressed by the rich legacy of Central State University. In 1958, then CSU President Charles H. Wesley hosted Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., as the commencement speaker, where he encouraged students to embrace the new era ahead. Central State University, I pledge to do my absolute best, utilizing my many years of experience in higher education, to move this great University to the level that it so well deserves, a University of distinction.
Every two weeks, I hold informal conversations with separate Presidential Roundtables of faculty, staff, and students. No topic is considered off limits. We discuss everything from the condition of residential halls, the quality of customer service, all the way to library hours. All constituencies are always very respectful and thoughtful. What I get from these meetings is, first, I get to connect directly with the University’s most important populations and second, I get to hear firsthand that WE ALL recognize the greatness that lies within Central State University. The conversations also cause me to reflect on the progress we’ve made, along with the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Winston Churchill once said, “A Pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an Optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” Before I begin to talk about the future, let me talk briefly about what we have accomplished together thus far.
Enrollment Management
When I arrived at Central State University, enrollment had decreased as it had at University’s across the country due to the pandemic. We pivoted quickly to hybrid delivery and distance learning and made quick technology adjustments. As a result, we stabilized a declining traditional enrollment and increased overall online enrollment with the launch of Central State Global that grew from 28 students to over 4,000! Overall enrollment rose by 97%.
Institutional Advancement – University Fundraising
University fundraising is a primary indicator of success, and the University Board of Trustees has charged me with starting and completing a multi-million dollar capital campaign –we are off to an excellent start! Over the last 18 months, corporate partnerships and corporate philanthropy at Central State University increased significantly. To date, the University has over 30 committed corporate partnerships and has raised over $7M towards the $30 M capital campaign goal. Additionally, the University’s public profile has been elevated.
1890 Land-Grant Mission
The goal of an 1890 Land Grant university is to improve the lives of the working classes through a liberal and practical education focused on agriculture, military tactics, and the mechanical arts as well as classical studies. CSU has a demonstrated history of “serving the underserved” and “reaching the unreached.” Central State is meeting its obligation to reduce the disparities in wealth, health, and education by conducting research addressing current societal problems, sharing knowledge through extension services, and providing first class education to our students. CSU provides over $2 M in scholarship awards to students majoring in agriculture related fields. We must encourage more students to major in agriculture.
Last year, the University received nearly $27M in research and external funds, which is the highest amount ever in CSU’s history.
Honors College
If you take a drive around campus like I do daily, you will notice construction of our new honor residential hall. The hall crystallizes the University’s commitment to academic excellence, scholarship, research, and service. Our focus is to attract, recruit, and enroll high achieving students who will enrich the academic experience of all students, enhance our overall academic profile, and increase our rankings in US News and World Report, the Princeton Review, and other rankings.
There are so many more milestones and accomplishments I could list. However, while it is important to give credit where credit is due, it is equally important to resist resting on our laurels. I established a Blue-Ribbon Task Force of educational professionals to review and recommend priorities. Will Blue Ribbons Task Force members stand to be recognized? Those nine (9) priorities we set when I first took office in July of 2020, we have accomplished them all, together (APPLAUSE)! Central State University is not and will never be second or third class! We are a first class University, and we must demand to be treated as such in all our encounters, both in public and in private!
While it will always be important to recognize wins, it is even more important to continue to move forward. Any discussion about what we’ve accomplished as a University must be accompanied by a conversation about where we plan to go. Failing to plan means planning to fail. President Abraham Lincoln once said, “Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” We are planning and collectively looking to the future with renewed energy, creative innovation, and laser focus. As such our University Strategic Plan theme is Reach Higher. Go Farther. Thrive.
Each goal in the strategic plan is accompanied by strategic initiatives, metrics, methods, and measures of success. All of us will play a critical role in embedding the plan into the very fiber of the University. Soon, across campus, you will begin to see elements of the plan reflected in new signage, new core values, and yes, new construction. The cornerstone of the plan is our bold and aggressive push to build the future Central State University – Project Innovation!
Project Innovation – Investing in Tomorrow Today
Central State University will embark on an aggressive capital infrastructure and building campaign to expand the campus footprint and capacity. The University will make a $65 M investment that will change the physical environment of the campus and begin the campaign of making Central State University a destination point for students, faculty, and professionals from around the world (APPLAUSE). If that doesn’t give you goose bumps, I don’t know what will! Let me share with you the initial projects that comprise Project Innovation:
New Honors Residential Hall and Administrative Complex
The facility will have apartment style units and the facility is scheduled to be complete in Fall 2022. These units will be available to Honors students only and will contain the latest technology and amenities and will house the administrative offices for Honors College. The facility is scheduled to be completed in Fall 2022.
CSU Health and Wellness Center
The University’s plan is to repurpose the existing facilities to create a new Health and Wellness Center. The building will include new spaces for health and wellness as well as administrative offices. The facility will also house a new Center for Minority Health Disparities Research. The expected completion of this facility is Fall 2023.
Facilities and Logistics Center
The new Facilities and Logistics Center will be the headquarters of campus physical infrastructure monitoring and logistics and capital development. The expected completion of this facility is Spring 2023.
Proposed College of Health and Human Services
The project will renovate the former Steam Plant structure, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The expansion of health-related majors in CSU’s academic plan will expand our offerings and recruitment efforts. The expected completion of the facility is Spring 2023.
The final three projects will enhance our residence communities. They are Honors Hall West, Stadium Hall East, and other off-campus living options.
WE MUST THINK BIG, DREAM BIG AND ACHIEVE OUR GOALS. CENTRAL STATE UNIVERSITY, IF OUR DREAMS DON’T SCARE US, THEN THEY ARE NOT BIG ENOUGH!
On March 4, 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Did you catch that date? March 4, 1933. Exactly 89 years ago today, during what was also his FIRST INAUGURAL address [PAUSE], President Roosevelt shared those powerful words. He was addressing Americans who were in the clutches of the Great Depression. People were hopeless and afraid. They could not imagine a future that was full of promise. Now, I understand that this is not the Great Depression, and we are not hopeless, but the sentiment still rings true. To achieve BIG goals, we must all get comfortable with being uncomfortable!
The University’s most valuable resource is the commitment, energy, intellect, and connectedness of the people who fill our classrooms, our residential halls, our dining facilities, our financial aid offices, and our facilities offices. We absolutely cannot achieve these lofty goals and plans without each of you. We must be a community of people who accepts nothing less than excellence and demands the same from everyone with whom we interact. Let’s hold each other to a higher standard of excellence and in good service in all our interactions.
As I stated before, we are looking to grow and forge ahead. We realize that this growth will position Central State University to continue to be the global influencer that it has been for over 135 years. We will be remiss if we did not take a pause and look locally. Therefore, it is my honor to announce today our new DTXS Public School Scholarship initiative. Starting immediately, Central State University will be providing free tuition scholarships for students from the following public-school districts. Dayton public schools, Trotwood Madison city schools, Xenia community schools, and Springfield city schools. We are excited to work with these high schools to help their students not only choose Central State, but be uniquely positioned to enroll and thrive! This is only the beginning and allows us to continue to grow globally while remaining connected locally.
Central State started as the Combined Normal Industrial Department at Wilberforce University, created by the Ohio General Assembly in 1887. The objectives of the new state sponsored program were to provide teacher training and vocational education to stabilize these programs by assuring a financial base similar to other state supported institutions.
In alignment with our history, I am pleased to announce that in the Fall of 2022 we will renew our focus on the founding objectives of our University. The Ohio Classroom Teacher Initiative will focus on creating the next generation of classroom teachers in Ohio. This is a four-year program that provides tuition free for students maintaining the academic standards in the College of Education.
Students will be immersed in mentorship with classroom teachers and CSU alumni educators in Ohio. It is our goal to sustain the rich tradition of success in the classroom and empower Ohio’s newest, best, and, brightest educators.
Finally, I want to leave you with the words of George Bernard Shaw, which reflects my leadership style and my commitment to Central State University and the community:
My life belongs to the community, and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live. Life is no ‘brief candle’ to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have…for [only] a moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.
Central State University – the future of this great institution is in our hands. We must work while we still have breath in our bodies, hope and determination in our hearts, energy and fire in our bellies, lessons and experiences to teach our students and the courage to stand even if we have to stand alone.
Central State University experienced the forces of nature in 1974.A tornado came and destroyed over 80% of the campus. Through that experience, we realized that this fine institution was destined for greater things. That is when we realized our “clock tower resilience.” The vision of Charles Wesley, the courage of Lionel Newsom, the audacity of Arthur Thomas, the discipline of John Garland, the tenacity of Cynthia Jackson-Hammond, all of them including (add other presidents) played a key role in building the foundation upon which we stand today. We stand on broad shoulders and now it is our turn, it is our responsibility, it is our duty be innovative, creative, flexible, because we are not just going to be on the cusp and just survive, we are going to thrive!
For God. For Central. For State.”
