New President Welcomed To Tuskegee University

by WAKA Action 8 News

Tuskegee University’s new president has arrived on campus.

He took time to talk to alumni, students and faculty about his plans for the historic university’s future. 

There was a lot of excitement here at Tuskegee University as they welcomed their new president. He says he’s ready and prepared to move this university forward. 

Brian Johnson was met with fans the moment he arrived on campus. 

It took the board of trustees about six months to pick Johnson after president Gilbert Rochon resigned last October. 

People on campus are already looking forward to Johnson’s new leadership.

“We’ve been around for 130 plus years and we’re looking to build on that and we’re looking forward to what Dr. Johnson can do to enhance the Tuskegee brand,” said staff member James Arrington.

“I’m impressed! He’s young so he’ll be able to connect with us better and he seems like he has a plan, a straightforward plan that he wants to put through to make the school better. So I feel like we’ve got some good upcoming years ahead of us,” said student Greg Coleman.

“We’ve had great leadership over the years and we’re just looking for leadership to just continue on, to carry on the legacy,” said Sherry King who also works on campus.

Johnson laid out his plan for Tuskegee’s future to the crowd. He was met with several standing ovations as he set out point by point what he plans to do.

“It’s all about an outcome oriented environment in higher education now. When we say that we don’t want to minimize the role of what we mean by academic freedom and faculty and academic affairs and learning. But when we talk about outcomes we want to be able to talk in tangible data driven ways about why we are who we say we are,” said President Johnson.

He also plans on being a man of action, not words. He’s starting by donating $100,000 to the school in the form of a scholarship.

“You give and you steward and I believe in Tuskegee University. I don’t want to just work here. I want to serve here, I want to live here, and I want others to want to serve here and live here,” said Johnson.