Joseph G. Joyner

is a veteran educator with degrees from UF and UCF. Now he’s president of Flagler College.

ST. AUGUSTINE — Joseph G. Joyner, a respected veteran Florida educator, was inaugurated as president of Flagler College during a ceremony Saturday attended by presidents of the state’s largest universities, elected officials and other dignitaries.

Joyner officially began the presidency in July, but the inauguration is the college’s formal ceremony installing and celebrating a new leader.

“I have no intention of letting you down, and I kept the stewardship of Flagler College my highest priority,” Joyner told the audience. “While I may be an unworthy servant, I possess a great deal of passion and determination. It is my firm intention to bring continued greatness to this wonderful college.”

Joyner also said his father, who was his high school principal and passed away about five years ago, was his inspiration for pursuing educational leadership.

“I absolutely fell in love with the ringing of the bells for what he did. I just so much wanted to be like my dad,” he said. “Today I know he is very, very proud of me. I know he is.”

Joyner previously served as superintendent of the St. Johns County School District — a position he had held since July 2003. Under his leadership, the school district was recognized as the highest achieving of Florida’s 67 school districts.

As superintendent, Joyner oversaw a budget of $633 million and supervised 21 major construction and renovation projects exceeding $387 million. Joyner holds degrees from both Florida State University and University of Central Florida.

FSU President John Thrasher talked about serving in the Florida state Senate and working with Joyner when he was St. Johns superintendent.

“He has a leader’s courage, a scholar’s curiosity and a servant’s heart,” Thrasher said. “There was nothing I enjoyed more than getting on the floor of the Senate and saying I represented the best school district in the state of Florida. I can’t wait to see where he takes Flagler College.”

Colton Neubauer, a junior and president of Flagler’s Student Government Association, said Joyner has already shown a commitment to students in the short time he has served at the college — even helping out with his wife, Susan, on move-in day to settle new students into their dorm rooms.