Dr. Mark A. Brown was formally installed as the tenth president of Tuskegee University during a ceremony that drew alumni, dignitaries, and community members to the historic Alabama campus. The event marked a significant moment for the institution, as Dr. Brown is both its first alumnus to serve as president and a former two-star US Air Force Major General.
The investiture featured traditions such as an academic procession and presentations of the Presidential Medallion and University Mace. Attendees included faculty in full regalia, reflecting both medieval European and contemporary African-American academic customs.
During the ceremony, Dr. Michael Lomax, President and CEO of UNCF—a partner organization with longstanding ties to Tuskegee—delivered an address highlighting his personal connection to the university. He recalled how Tuskegee provided refuge for his family decades ago, stating, “HBCUs mean warmth, nourishment, love and embrace.” Dr. Lomax also announced financial support from UNCF for Tuskegee’s future.
A video message from musician Lionel Richie, a Tuskegee alumnus, was played during the event. Richie said, “Tuskegee gave me more than just an education; it gave me a community and a home,” expressing confidence in Dr. Brown’s leadership: “Dr. Brown would doubtless lead Tuskegee ‘with vision, passion and integrity.’”
In his inaugural address, Dr. Brown emphasized Tuskegee’s ongoing commitment to service at local and global levels through its programs in science, engineering, agriculture, and aviation. He described his tenure as focused on transformation while honoring tradition: “The enduring name is not Mark Brown; the enduring name is Tuskegee.”
The ceremony also paid tribute to figures from Tuskegee’s history such as Booker T. Washington—its founding president—and student activist Sammy Younge Jr., underscoring the university’s role in advancing civil rights and educational opportunities for African Americans since its founding in 1881.
Tuskegee University continues to be recognized for its contributions across various fields including agriculture and engineering.
