University’s presidential inauguration, a hallmark in Dixie State’s history; public event

ST. GEORGE — Dixie State University will formally celebrate the appointment of its 18th President, Richard B. Williams, with a special inauguration ceremony on Oct. 23 at 3 p.m. in the M. Anthony Burns Arena, midway through DSU’s Homecoming week, Oct. 20-25 which includes many activites and events for the campus and surrounding community to enjoy.

The inauguration ceremony is free and open to the public, and audience members are encouraged to arrive early for premium seating.

“We Are Dixie” is the chosen theme for DSU’s inauguration, as Williams hopes that the celebration of both the installation and Homecoming will serve as a way to unite the university and community.

Williams has said publically that DSU is currently in the early planning stages of creating a new strategic plan, and he is eager to involve all institutional stakeholders in the process of shaping the future of Dixie State University.

“I invite the community to attend and to hear that we need their help, that ‘We’ are going to chart the course, and that ‘We’ have to pull together to make Dixie better – this is ‘our’ mission,” Williams said. “We are the community’s university and I would love to see St. George go from a great college town to a phenomenal university town.”

DSU Vice President of Institutional Advancement Christina Schultz, who chairs the inauguration planning committee, noted that the inauguration ceremony promises to be a hallmark event in DSU’s storied history. Schultz also announced that DSU will unveil a new university mace, explaining that in academia, the mace symbolizes a university’s governing authority and signifies that all university proceedings have official sanction.

“We look forward to this great day for Dixie State University,” Schultz said. “For only the 18th time in our 103 history, we have the opportunity to inaugurate a new president. We invite the campus and community to join with us to celebrate.”

Williams was announced as the 18th President of Dixie State University on July 17. Prior to his arrival at DSU, Williams served as provost and vice president of academic affairs at Indiana State University. Previous to his appointment as provost, Williams was the founding dean of ISU’s College of Nursing, Health and Human Services, for which he led the development of six new degree programs designed to address the state’s critical shortage of health care workers.

Williams had also served as an associate dean of the College of Education at the University of Northern Iowa, where he was a faculty member, executive associate director of the School of Health, Physical Education, and Leisure Services, and chair of the Division of Athletic Training.

At UNI, he helped create a private-public partnership between the local hospital, medical community, and university that resulted in the construction of a two-story human performance center that served the surrounding rural communities.

Williams married his high school sweetheart, Kristin, in 1993, and they are the parents of five children: Bailee, 18, Elly, 15, Braden, 13, Peyton, 11, and Rowen, 8.

Inauguration Week events

  • Oct. 20
    • Homecoming Kick-off – Diagonal/Centennial Plaza; 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m., free
 admission
    • Alumni Trunk or Treat and Waffle Dinner – Wade Alumni House; 6 p.m., free admission
    • 
Lecture Featuring Rose Gottemoeller, Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security – Eccles Fine Arts Center Concert Hall; 7 p.m., free admission
  • Oct 21
    • Dixie Forum “A Window on the World” featuring Dr. Lincoln Nadauld – Dunford Auditorium; 12 noon, free admission
    • Miss Dixie State Pageant – Avenna Center Cox Auditorium; 7:30 p.m., admission is $5 at the door
    • Jazz Ensemble Concert – Eccles Fine Arts Center MainStage Theatre; 7:30 p.m., admission is $5 or $1 with DSU ID
  • Oct. 22
    • Women’s Volleyball vs. Academy of Art – Student Activities Center; 6 p.m., Go here for tickets)
    • Homecoming Drive-In Movie “Monster’s University” – Old Airport (Ridge Top Complex; 620 South Airport Road); Dusk, free admission
  • Oct. 23
    • Business and Ethics Forum – Udvar-Hazy Business Building Boeing Auditorium; 12 noon, free admission
    • Inauguration Ceremony of President Richard B. Williams – M. Anthony Burns Arena; 3 p.m., free admission
  • Oct. 24
    • Alumni Assembly – Eccles Fine Arts Center Concert Hall; 10 a.m., free admission
    • DSUSA Rock the Mall Competition – Gardner Center Plaza; 12 noon, free admission
    • Alumni Golden Generation Club Reunion – Sears Art Museum Gallery (Eccles FAC); 12 noon, free admission
    • Men’s Basketball Reunion – Gardner Center Ballroom; 2 p.m., free admission
    • Alumni Banquet – Student Activities Center (OLD GYM); 6 p.m., $14 admission
    • DSUSA Powderpuff Football Game – Hansen Stadium; 7:30 p.m., free admission
    • Fine & Performing Arts Voice Recital – 5:30/7:30 p.m.; free admission
    • Student Alumni Association Midnight 5K – Hansen Stadium; Midnight, free admission
  • Oct. 25
    • Homecoming Parade – Tabernacle Street from 700 East to Main Street; 10 a.m., free admission
    • Homecoming Founders’ Day/Hall of Fame Assembly – St. George Tabernacle (18 S. Main Street); 11:30 a.m., free admission
    • Women’s Volleyball vs. Cal Baptist – Student Activities Center, old gym; noon, get tickets here
    • Homecoming Tailgate Party – Wade Alumni House; 3:45 p.m., free admission
    • Homecoming Football Game vs. Menlo College – Hansen Stadium; 6 p.m., get tickets here
    • DSUSA Homecoming Dance – Cox Pavilion; 9 p.m., free admission
    • True Rebel Night – DSU Fountain; Midnight, free admission
  • Oct. 27
    • DSU Men’s Basketball vs. Arizona Christian (ex.) – Burns Arena; 7:30 p.m., get tickets here
  • Oct. 28
    • DSU Inauguration Concert featuring Phillip Phillips – M. Anthony Burns Arena; 7:30 p.m., get tickets here

More information on the Dixie State University Inauguration, please visit Dixie State University’s website or contact the DSU Public Relations Office at 435-652-7544.

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