President Ron Cole, ’87, was officially sworn in on Saturday, Oct. 14, as the 23rd president of Allegheny College.
In attendance at Cole’s inauguration were members of the Board of Trustees, Presidents Emeriti Richard Cook and James Mullen, the Meadville mayor, members of the Meadville City Council, alumni, professors and about 150 staff and students.
Board of Trustees Chair Steve Levinsky, ’78, opened the ceremony, introducing Cole as just the third alumnus in the college’s history to serve as president.
“Today, Allegheny continues to be at the forefront of providing an education that empowers students to seek new perspectives, think beyond what’s known to what is possible and to be problem solvers and make a difference,” Levinsky said. “President Cole exemplifies the best of Allegheny for his time here as a student, returning as a faculty member and serving for seven years as provost to his recent appointment as president.”
Levinsky described Cole as a friend and a great leader, before turning the podium over to Reverend John Patrick Colatch, who previously served at Allegheny.
Colatch described meeting Cole for the first time while they were swimming laps in adjoining lanes at the pool.
“When we both came up for air at the end, he said, ‘Hi, I’m Ron!’ — That greeting really does exemplify the man who officially becomes the 23rd president of Allegheny College today,” Colatch said. “I can think of no one who better exemplifies the best of this place — a keen intellect and curiosity to always know more, a welcoming nature, an ability to integrate the best aspects of liberal arts tradition and a spiritual and ethical compass that insists every person be treated with equality and kindness and respect.”
Allegheny students are unique, Colatch continued, because they are focused and committed to academic excellence and serving their communities.
“The world is better because of the work done here and the vision and energy that the graduates of this venerable academy on the hill will take with them into the world,” Colatch said.
Five speakers then took the stage to speak about Allegheny’s defining values.
Faculty Council Chair, Professor of English and Director of Writing Alexis Hart spoke about innovation, pointing to the pioneering formation of the environmental science program 50 years ago and the recent formation of the Allegheny Lab of Innovation and Creativity as examples of the college’s drive to innovate. She described faculty as “cultivators of curiosity” who teach students to become “catalysts of change.” Hart emphasized the importance of listening in that endeavor.
“We know that innovation and creativity occur at higher rates at companies with more diverse workforces,” Hart said. “And that’s a result of listening and recognizing that better problem solving happens when not everyone is thinking about solutions in the same way.”
Alumni Council President Timothy Downing, ’85, talked about the importance of inclusion at Allegheny and pledged on behalf of all alumni continued support for creating an even more diverse, equitable, welcoming and inclusive college environment.
“For more than 200 years, Allegheny has been a place of refuge for those seeking knowledge,” Downing said. “However, for far too long, it was not a particularly diverse or welcoming place to those who were not straight, white, and male. That now has dramatically changed, and we’re a much better, more diverse and inclusive place than we’ve ever been before that has made it more welcoming and a better place for students, faculty, and staff. This would not have happened without intentionality, and President Cole has been and will continue to be intentional about these efforts.”
Administrative Advisory Committee Chair and Digital Content Specialist Katheryn Frazier spoke about the college’s sustained legacy of excellence as the 32nd oldest university in the country.
“Excellence is not competition,” Frazier said. “It’s about lifting up your classmates, your teammates, your coworkers. This is how we treat one another, is being passionate about what you do, putting forth your best effort for a greater good. I hope for the institution that each one of us strives for excellence in all we do. And we see that in you, President Cole, as your leadership inspires us to be better and achieve our goals with intention.”
Staff Advisory Committee Co-Chair and Office Coordinator Kelly Wright, ’23, talked about how sustainability has been a part of the campus culture for decades. She praised Allegheny for being the first in Pennsylvania and the eighth in the country to become carbon-neutral.
“Staff, administrators, students and faculty all work together to keep sustainability as a value at Allegheny College,” Wright said. “We nurture the soil in our representative areas to make a difference on campus and in our community.”
Lastly, Allegheny Student Government President Nicole Recio Bremer, ’25, reflected on the importance of Allegheny’s “vibrant, diverse and close-knit community that we all call home.”
“As we welcome our president, we must reflect on the role of leadership in fostering and nurturing this sense of community,” Recio Bremer said. “A strong and inclusive community is not built by one person alone but it is important to have a leader that holds these values so that we can build this community through the collaborative efforts of every member.”
After the choir performed “In Meeting We Are Blessed” by Troy Robertson, Cole was joined by his family on stage and was officially installed as the 23rd president of Allegheny College. He was given the seal of the college to remind him of the college’s values of faith, virtue and knowledge.
After the installation, Meadville community member and educator and recipient of an honorary Allegheny degree Armendia Dixon took the stage to congratulate Cole on his long list of lifetime achievements.
Cole is the recipient of multiple awards, has more than 100 published articles and conference presentations, helped establish multiple successful academic programs and serves on several Meadville boards, including the Dr. Martin Luther King Scholarship Board, which Dixon said he helped establish with his financial leadership. He also played the violin in the Allegheny College Civic Symphony as a student and is a certified martial arts instructor.
“Wow,” Dixon said, once finished describing his many accomplishments.
Dixon then indulged in a story to highlight the quality of Cole’s character.
“He pricked my heart during the 2019 Allegheny College graduation when he stood at the podium, carefully, clearly and slowly enunciating and pronouncing each student’s name,” Dixon said. “The graduates appeared to be bursting with pride when their names were distinctly called. Later, I shared my thoughts about this with Dr. Cole. He told me that each student was special and he made sure that he knew them. As much as possible, he wanted to honor them by pronouncing their names carefully upon graduation. Names are special, students are special to him.”
Dixon expressed her excitement and certainty that Allegheny will continue to foster a healthy connection with Meadville and the broader Crawford County communities, emphasizing that they are intertwined and share the same overarching goal of prosperity.
Finally, Cole took the stage to give his inaugural remarks. He reflected on his time at Allegheny studying geology and the significant influence of the many mentors he had during his time as a student.
“Each of the mentors in my life became beacons lighting my path,” Cole said. “I stand today on the shoulders of these mentors who had the wisdom to know the value of education and the purpose to nurture that wisdom in others.”
He described his firm belief that the transformative multidisciplinary education Allegheny provides is exactly what is needed to solve complex, far-reaching problems that plague the world today. He spotlighted Ida Tarbell, class of 1880, who he believes represents the ideals of transformative education with her broad education, thorough research and relentless pursuit of fact.
“The pathway for Allegheny is bright as we honor our history and those Alleghenians who have forged a proud legacy across two centuries while we move boldly into the future,” Cole said. “And our boldness will show in our wisdom to embrace new ideas, our courage to implement change and our discipline to stay the course.”
Cole was brought close to tears when he shifted to directly address the students of Allegheny.
“You, especially, bring inspiration and joy to me and to our campus as you turn your passions into purpose,” Cole said. “You are the bridge between Allegheny’s proud legacy and our endless future, reminding me of my purpose each and every day.”
To close out his remarks, Cole read aloud and encouraged everyone in attendance to reflect on the charge that Allegheny has the tradition of offering to students at matriculation and commencement.
“‘To employ the full measure of your promise and potential in the pursuit of excellence and the service of others; To live lives of courage and conviction, always seeking what is just and what is true; To find and appreciate beauty, even when others may not; To find joy and laughter in the challenge of your day and to never forget what it means to be a friend,’” Cole said. “I take this charge to heart, and I stand here today to affirm that my purpose and commitment to Allegheny College is deep and unwavering.”