Dr. J. Randall O'Brien

O'Brien Officially Welcomed as President

By: Natalie Lester & Kristen Buckles, O&B Editors

Posted: 11/6/09

During his inaugural speech on Friday, October 30, Dr. J. Randall O'Brien listed clear goals for the college he envisions.

"I dream of a college whose graduates know how to think, how to think for themselves, and how to think Christianly," President O'Brien said.

After a year of preparation and a month of celebration, the campus community inaugurated Dr. J. Randall O'Brien as the college's 22nd president. In an official welcome, each segment of the C-N family extended open arms to O'Brien and his family.

Student body President Andrew Ingalls put his complete confidence in the president.

"Not only can he play a mean guitar," Ingalls said, "But he is an intelligent, motivated, and driven man who will do great things for this school."

Faculty and staff also gladly received O'Brien to the C-N family.

"When you first arrived, we welcomed you because we needed a president," said Assistant Athletic Director and head basketball coach Dale Clayton, "But now we welcome you because we found a friend and a leader with a pastor's heart."

Keynote speaker for the ceremony was U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander who was introduced by former ambassador to Poland and former mayor of Knoxville Victor Ashe. .Alexander, former president of the University of Tennessee, highlighted the difficulty of the task in front of O'Brien.

"A friend once asked me, 'What is more difficult - being the governor of a state, serving on the presidential cabinet, or being a president of a college or university?'" Alexander said, "I answered them, 'It is obvious you have never been president of a college.'"

Alexander also affirmed the selection of O'Brien to lead the college. .

"You have a very good man for a very good place - a perfect match," Alexander said. "Members of the C-N community have the same problems everyone else does but you have the determination and heart to conquer them and now you have a new president to lead you."

Representatives from Jefferson City, East Tennessee, Baylor University, and the International Association of Baptist Colleges and Universities spoke to embrace O'Brien as the new president.

Interim Provost Elizabeth Davis, who was a part of a six-member delegation from Baylor, described O'Brien as a "central icon in the Baylor community who is sorely missed." However, she encouraged the college to soak in the service and love of the O'Brien family.

"It is your turn, Carson-Newman, to share in the joy of Randall O'Brien," Davis said.