By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
The summer commencement Saturday at BGSU marked a transition for 901 undergraduate and graduate students, and
for Provost Joe Whitehead, who presided over the conferring of their diplomas.
The graduate ceremony marked his last official act as provost. After the graduates had recessed, he started his job as a senior vice president.
The announcement of the change came earlier this summer.
During the ceremony, Rogers noted that Whitehead arrived BGSU President Rodney Rogers paid tribute to his academic second in command.
In January, 2019. Whitehead took over as provost from Rogers who ascended to the presidency when Mary Ellen Mazey retired.
Whitehead came to BGSU from North Carolina where he taught physics at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical University and was a senior adviser for research for the University of North Carolina System.
The next five years were a challenging time for higher education as it anticipated demographic shift that would reduce the number of prospective students.
Then 15 months after Whitehead’s arrival the pandemic swept the nation.
Rogers noted in his address to students that many of them were in the high school graduating class of 2020 when commencement ceremonies were held virtually. This was their first face-to-face graduation.
Whitehead played a key part, along with deans and faculty, in helping to reshape the university’s academic program. In that time, he worked at “elevating” the university’s offerings in STEM fields, Rogers said.
Whitehead played a key role in developing the schools of aviation, nursing, physical therapy, and engineering.
“He was deeply involved,” Rogers said, “in the launch of Life Design, our effort to redefine student success.”
Though many students may not have met him, Whitehead’s work will have a long-lasting impact on the university.
Rogers noted that BGSU has bucked the trend of declining enrollment. Its enrollment is growing “This is a vibrant growing public university, and it takes all of us to maintain that momentum.”
In his new role, Whitehead, who has a doctorate in physics with a specialty in liquid crystals and polymer materials, will work on regional initiatives in science, including the recently announced Northwest Ohio Glass Innovation Hub, which brings together the region’s glass manufacturers and higher education..
Chatting before the ceremony began, Whitehead said he was looking forward to engaging in those efforts.
Rogers concluded saying he was grateful for Whitehead’s counsel during the past five-plus years and was “deeply appreciative of his unwavering commitment to our students, faculty, and staff.”
Though not mentioned in Rogers’ remarks, among the challenges universities are facing have been political efforts aimed at more tightly controlling universities.
Rogers used his remarks to reiterate the importance of higher education and the responsibilities of those who benefit from it.
He quoted lines from the 1787 Northwest Ordinance the framework for admitting states, including Ohio, to the union.
“Knowledge, being necessary to good governance and the happiness of humankind, schools and the means of education should be forever encouraged.”
Those words are inscribed in McFall Center where the president’s office is located. Rogers said he reads them every morning on his way into his office.
He spelled out the advantages of getting a college degree. On average college graduates earn higher pay, experience greater life satisfaction, have greater work satisfaction, have more flexibility in life and career, and live longer.
Those are all “great personal benefits,” he said. But with a BGSU degree comes with “immense responsibilities.”
His mantra, “a public university for the public good” is more than a catchphrase, it is a mission statement.
“We share this world with one another, and you have it in your power to make it even better,” he told the graduates. ‘It starts with voting. So engage with democracy. Be active in your community. Be involved and volunteer, and, if able, give.”
He asked them to cultivate three qualities.
Be curious. Ask questions. Never stop learning. Maintain relationships with people with different points of view.
Be active. Remain bold and take action. “Don’t be afraid to tackle messy challenges.”
And, finally, Rogers said: “I ask you always to be kind. The world needs more kindness.”
