Released March 24, 1999

Centre College sets April 15 presidential installation

DANVILLE, KY -- Centre College has set Thursday, April 15, as the date for the official installation of John A. Roush as president of the college. The program will include a formal ceremony in the college's Norton Center for the Arts, and, at Roush's request, will culminate with a light-hearted parade down Walnut Street featuring the Olympia Brass Band from New Orleans.

The April 15 events are part of a two-week celebration of Roush's presidency. Students will host a prayer brunch and service of meditation for him on Tuesday, April 13. On the day after his installation (Friday, April 16), Roush will join students for a night of fun when he hosts a video-karioke party at the college student center.

Students also are planning a 5K fun run with the president, set for Sunday afternoon, April 25. The run will serve as a fund raiser for a local charity.

The theme for the installation is "Founding the Future," and prior to the ceremony, the college will bury a time capsule intended to be opened at Centre's homecoming in the year 2050. The college also will honor its past by unveiling plans to restore native plants to the historic Sinking Spring area on campus.

The formal installation ceremony will begin at 2 p.m. on the 15th in Newlin Hall of the Norton Center and will be open to the public at no charge. The program will feature a mini-drama about the history of Centre, along with remarks by Roush.

Following the installation and mini-parade, Centre will host a reception in Roush's honor.

Roush took office on July 1, 1998, as the 20th president of the college. He had 25 years of experience in higher education before coming to Centre, most recently as vice president for planning at the University of Richmond. He originally joined UR in 1982 as executive assistant and became an institutional leader in efforts to create the Jepson School of Leadership Studies.

A long-time Ohio resident, Roush earned a bachelor's degree in English at Ohio University's Honors College, where he graduated summa cum laude. He completed master's and doctoral degrees at Miami University, where he began his career in higher education as an assistant football coach. Roush remained at Miami nine years, culminating with his appointment as executive assistant to the president.

At Centre, Roush succeeded Michael Adams, who left to accept the presidency of the University of Georgia.

- end -

* Installation schedule
* Biographical sketch of Pres. Roush
* Second Release

Communications Office
Centre College
600 W. Walnut Street
Danville, KY 40422

Coordinator of Public Information: Patsi Barnes Trollinger
Telephone 606-238-5719 · trllngrp@centre.edu