Shawnee State University will host an Inauguration Weekend to celebrate the installation of Dr. Eric Andrew Braun as its 8th President on Apr. 19 & 20, 2024. A Portsmouth, Ohio native, Dr. Braun has been a part of university leadership for fifteen years, serving as Executive Director of Development, Vice President for Advancement & Enrollment Management, and Interim President.
The theme for the Inauguration is "Innovation, Collaboration, and Learning: Building a Stronger Community Together" and sets the tone for the celebration which will include an Installation & Community Awards Ceremony at 2 p.m. on Friday, Apr. 19 in the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts. The public is invited.
“This is a community celebration,” Sallie Schisler, SSU Board of Trustee member and Chair of the SSU Inauguration Committee, said. “Shawnee State University is growing in new and exciting ways that impact all of us who live and work in this region. I speak for the Board in saying that the Inauguration is an opportunity for us to come together in support of our University, the progress we’ve made through the years, and what we will continue to accomplish together.”
In addition to Dr. Braun’s installation, the ceremony on Apr. 19 will include community, faculty, employee, and student awards. The Vernal G. Riffe, Jr. Founder’s Medal will also be presented to the family of the late Victor W. Morgan, Sr., an entrepreneur and founder of Morgan Bros. Jewelers in Portsmouth, Ohio. Morgan provided leadership as a Trustee of SSU at every stage of its development from its earliest beginnings in 1970 and his family continues to support SSU students, programs, and service to the area.
On Saturday, Apr. 20, the SSU community invites the public to celebrate the Inauguration of Dr. Braun at the Inaugural Ball beginning at 6 p.m. at Marting’s located at 515 Chillicothe Street in Portsmouth, Ohio. The Inaugural Ball will raise funds for a new Presidential Scholarship program tied to innovation, collaboration, and learning. The program will provide direct financial support to students from the immediate region, funding full-tuition scholarships, housing aid, meal plan assistance, and support for books and needed supplies. Tickets to the Inaugural Ball are available on the Inauguration website.
For more information on the upcoming Inauguration celebration at Shawnee State University, visit shawnee.edu/inauguration.