East Stroudsburg. ‘Creating Opportunities’ for new college president

East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania (ESU) will inaugurate Kenneth Long, M.B.A. as its 14th president on April 27, 2023 following a week of special programs and activities.

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 April 22. On 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.

Log onto www.esu.edu/inauguration for a list of planned event for inauguration week.