The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
College holds inauguration for 15th president
Oberlin College students, staff, alumni and community members gathered Oct. 5 in Finney Chapel, 90 N. Professor St., to officially inaugurate the college’s 15th, and first African American, president Carmen Twillie Ambar.
“Oberlin College is a place against racism and inequality... and Carmen Twillie Ambar exemplifies that,” said Johnnetta Betsch Cole, 1957 graduate of the college. “The fact that she is an African American woman... rings out clearly how Oberlin was the first to admit students regardless of race.”
Cole said Ambar will continue the traditions of the college and allow it to push forward.
“I can count on Carmen to continue the tradition of activism at the college,” Cole said. “I know she will support and guard this liberal arts institution. I know she will make sure students here are impacted by music, theater and dance. This reminds me of an Ethiopian proverb, ‘Where a woman leads (rules), streams run uphill.’ “
Carol Levine, president of the Oberlin Alumni Association, said they switched things up when they chose Ambar.
“We had the option to choose someone that fit the mold and stick with what we’d had in the past,” she said. “We instead went with someone who is bold and a visionary. We wanted someone that would lead Oberlin to its bicentennial; Carmen Twillie Ambar has all of those qualities we were looking for.”
Naeisha McClain, a current
student at the college, said she was filled with excitement when Ambar was selected.
“It’s rare that we can come together for the inauguration of the college’s president, and it’s even more rare that the president is a black woman,” she said.
“I remember watching the announcement of the president and being a part of a group chat. The chat lit up when she was announced.”
McClain said Ambar has proven, since her selection
May 30, 2017, that she’s a good president.
“She cares about what happens here,” she said. “She cares about the students and takes the time to listen to us one-on-one. She encourages us to be bold and to push ourselves; she wants to see us succeed. She represents excellence but still pushes forward to be better. That encourages the rest of us to do the same.”
Ambar said Oberlin College will continue to boldly push forward.
“We all decided this
would be a celebration of the college, not an individual,” she said. “I want to continue the fundamental commitment that Oberlin graduates have an impact on the world around them. To continue the commitment to hard work and working for something bigger than yourself.”
Ambar said she has liked what she has seen so far from the college.
“I’ve been humbled, honored and inspired by you,” she said.
“We will continue the
bold, forward thinking the college is known for. This college has always had innovations that some may believe were inevitable, but not so much. There were people against the admittance of African Americans to this college. Some people wanted to wait and see other colleges do it and see how it went. Fortunately, Oberlin did not wait and was the first to admit African Americans. We will not wait for other colleges, we will be the college that keeps leading the way.”