April 10, 2017
Inauguration Reception Included Music from Sleepy Man – A Nationally Recognized Band That Consists of Centenary Students
Hackettstown, New Jersey, April 10, 2017– Centenary University celebrated the inauguration of Dr. David P. Haney, the institution’s 13th President this past Friday (April 7, 2017). This historic event is part of Centenary’s 150th anniversary schedule of events. The reception includes music from Sleepy Man, which is a nationally recognized alternative bluegrass band that has been featured on The David Letterman Show and The Today Show. Two of the band members, Robbie and Tommy Mizzone, are Centenary University Business Administration: Finance students who will be graduating in 2020.
This celebration included inspiring speeches from different Centenary constituencies, including a keynote address from Dr. Rosalind Reichard, President of Emory & Henry College 2006-2013, Interim Provost at St. Joseph’s University and Centenary University Trustee. Norman Worth, Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees and General Manager and President of WRNJ Radio, was the Master of Ceremonies. Student involvement included speeches from representatives of Enactus and student government. A musical interlude was featured from Centenary Stage Company’s production of “Into the Woods.”
“Dr. Haney has proven to be an effective leader since he began his tenure last July,” says Wolfgang Gstattenbauer ‘84/13, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Centenary University. “The Centenary community is extremely fortunate to have such a talented and innovative administrator at the helm. It is especially significant that his inauguration takes place during this year, which is a major milestone for the institution.”
Dr. Haney’s speech focused on Centenary’s role in the current higher education and regional landscape, highlighting initiatives that are growing out of the current strategic planning process.
Dr. Haney was appointed the 13th president of Centenary University in July 2016, after serving for four years as the Vice President for Academic Affairs at Emory & Henry College, a liberal arts college in Southwest Virginia. He has also held administrative and faculty positions at Appalachian State University, Black Hills State University, Auburn University, and Swarthmore College. He began his administrative career as Dean of Students at the Cambridge School of Weston, an independent secondary boarding and day school in Weston, Massachusetts.
At Emory & Henry College, Dr. Haney led the development of a strategic initiative for project-based liberal education and expanded academic programs in graduate health education, developing a school of health sciences on the campus of a former hospital. He played a leadership role in the acquisition of an equestrian program, the development of an environmental field station, the establishment of a partnership with the Rensselaerville Institute, the expansion of community engagement initiatives, the growth of the honors program and the expansion of international education.
During his first months at Centenary, Dr. Haney has reorganized the university’s senior administration so as to support new initiatives in curriculum, international education, campus business practices, and collaboration with other institutions and the community. Using the principles of human-centered design, he is leading a campus-wide strategic planning process that emphasizes educational value, innovation, organizational health, fiscal responsibility, and community engagement. He has met with the staff and faculty of every department on campus, and he has visited local and state officials as well as presidents of other institutions of higher education in the region.
Dr. Haney holds an MA and PhD in English from the University at Buffalo and a BA in English from Macalester College, where he was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. His scholarship has focused on British Romantic poetry and the philosophical connection between interpretation and ethics, with two monographs on Penn State Press’s Literature and Philosophy series, as well as articles on British Romanticism, literature and philosophy and higher education.
“An inauguration is a time for new beginnings,” says Dr. Haney. “I am so pleased to be here at Centenary University during such an exciting time. I ask that people in the community and beyond keep an eye out for many Centenary University accomplishments in the months and years to come.”
For more information visit CentenaryUniversity.edu/Inauguration.
Founded in 1867 by the Newark Conference of the United Methodist Church, Centenary University’s academic program integrates a solid liberal arts foundation with a strong career orientation. This mix is designed to provide an educational experience that prepares students to succeed in the increasingly global and interdependent world.
Centenary University’s main campus is located in Hackettstown, N.J., with its equestrian facility in Washington Township (Morris County). The Centenary School of Professional Studies offers degree programs online, as well as in two locations: Parsippany and Edison, online, as well as corporate sites throughout New Jersey.
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