LeMoyne-Owen College’s newly-inaugurated president Vernell Bennett-Fairs highlighted the college’s history and outlined her vision to carry it into the future in her investiture ceremony this week.

“Imagine our past accomplishments meeting our present aspirations and launching us into a future where we boldly go where no college has gone before. If we can imagine it, we can achieve it,” she said through tears on Thursday, May 5, riffing off the theme of the week’s inaugural events, “Pure Imagination.” 

LeMoyne-Owen College to celebrate presidential inauguration Friday

Bennett-Fairs is the 13th president of the college. Her term began in January 2021. 

Dozens of supporters, alumni, and the president’s parents gathered in the school’s gym to celebrate as rain pounded the original outdoor location of the ceremony. 

At Thursday’s ceremony, students, mentors and former colleagues characterized the president as a listener and a leader who cares about her students. 

“From a student’s point of view, she was a breath of fresh air, making it a priority to support students. Rather they be organizational events or sporting events, she was there to support students, and it didn’t go unnoticed,” student government President Daebron Leach said. 

“Throughout my career, serving as a student advocate has been near and dear to my heart,” Bennett-Fairs said later, in her inaugural address. 

Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), Mayor Jim Strickland and Sen. Raumesh Akbari (D-Memphis) welcomed Bennett-Fairs, along with representatives from the faculty, student body, and the president’s prior institutions. 

Bennett-Fairs joined LeMoyne-Owen from Delta State University, where she served as vice president for student affairs. Prior to her role at Delta State, she spent the first 20 years of her career in education at Kentucky State University, advancing from music instructor to senior administrative roles. 

Five local colleges, five new leaders

Also in attendance were presidents and delegates from several historically Black colleges and universities in the region, including Tennessee State University, Fisk University and Alcorn State University.

Tennessee State University President Glenda Glover, who also serves on President Joe Biden’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities, brought greetings from Vice President and Howard University alumna Kamala Harris. 

Along with those greetings, she presented a $50,000 check on behalf of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. The check was the second installment of a $100,000 HBCU endowment at LOC. Glover is the international president of the sorority, and Harris and Bennett-Fairs are members. 

LeMoyne-Owen College celebrates 160 years

Bennett-Fairs took the helm of the college when the daily new COVID-19 case count hovered around 1,000 in Shelby County, and just as vaccines became available to residents 75 and older. 

She, like other higher education administrators, noted the challenges with leading through those circumstances. 

“Arriving in the midst of a fierce global pandemic was particularly challenging. I wanted to get out and meet people, shake hands and have face-to-face conversations and build new relationships.”

Instead, she was forced to think outside the box and push forward with innovative thinking. 

Thus, the theme pure imagination was born. 

So far in her term, the college has lauded Bennett-Fairs’ accomplishments in strengthening the relationship with its South Memphis community, her efforts in fundraising, and her investment in academic programs. This includes establishing a program of distinction in computer science and recruiting three Fulbright scholars to the faculty.