Gerson Pancorbo
In a ceremony rich with spiritual fervor, Dr. Gina Spivey Brown was officially inaugurated as the 12th president of Oakwood University, shattering a 129-year-old glass ceiling as the institution’s first female leader. She takes the helm of the University on a powerful legacy, with four of her predecessors present to witness the transition, representing the shoulders upon which she now stands. Board of Trustees Chair Dr. G. Alexander Bryant affirmed the board’s conviction, calling her the university’s “Esther… called to lead her people at such a time as this”. Dr. Brown immediately set a tone of restorative leadership, using her inaugural address to issue bold proclamations of repentance and reconciliation for any past hurts caused by the university.
The keynote address, delivered by Dr. Carlton P. Byrd, was a sermon that brought the Oakwood Church to its feet. He powerfully framed Dr. Brown’s presidency as God’s purpose, declaring her assignment was not to “fit a quota” but a result of her being “smart,” “spiritual,” “capable,” and “qualified”. Dr. Byrd also issued a stirring defense and celebration of Black women in leadership, forcefully pushing back against detractors and listing iconic women from Harriet Tubman to Kamala Harris as pillars of strength. He warned Dr. Brown that leadership invites attack, but assured her that such trials often precede advancement, concluding with a charge to “finish the race” God had set before her.
The spiritual atmosphere of the day was deepened by special musical selections, including powerful anthems from the Aeolians and a special song from gospel legend Wintley Phipps, who reminded the new president that God “believes in your dreams”. Among the most touching moments was a “love letter” read by Dr. Brown’s daughter, Atty Blayre Marley, who advised her mother to always remain a humble “servant leader” and reminded her that in the face of opposition, “you plus Jesus equals the majority”. These personal and artistic tributes, combined with strong institutional support from leaders like Howard University President Dr. Wayne A. Frederick, underscored the wide network of faith and admiration surrounding Dr. Brown as she begins her historic tenure.
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