The presidential investiture of Tracy Brundage was held to honor her past and future services to the ABAC community. It was Sept. 22, 2023 when Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College had one of its most important ceremonies of the year.
Brundage’s investiture began with the professors of ABAC entering the Gymnasium with their caps and gowns donned. The ABAC Concert Band gave a grand performance before Director of Public Relations Chris Beckham began the ceremony.
The ABAC Band and Chorus performed the national anthem. Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture and former ABAC graduate Tyler Harper gave the invocation as part of Brundage’s investiture.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp could not attend the meeting in person, so he provided his greeting via a video displayed on the side-screens. The other greetings were from other important faces such as Tift Mayor Julie Smith, Tift County Board of Commissioners Chairman Tony McBrayer, former ABAC faculty Senate President Diantha Ellis, ABAC staff council President Tia Kohler, SGA President Brooke Patry, ABAC Foundation Board of Trustees Chair Jaclyn Ford, and ABAC Alumni Association Vice President Chad Hancock.
“God Bless America” was played by the ABAC Band and Chorus in order to transition to the bigger part of the ceremony, officially announcing Brundage’s position. She makes history as ABAC’s very first female president. Dr. Rachael Price says, “It was nice to see so many people from all over the country come together to celebrate ABAC’s first woman president.”
Speeches were given from the President Emeritus from the Pennsylvania College of Technology Dr. Davie Jane Gilmour, Penn State University Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Education Dr. David Passmore, Keystone College President John F. Pullo; and Board of Regents Chair Harold Reynolds.
The ABAC Chorus subsequently sang “The Climb” by Arr. M. Brymer, leading to the investiture of Brundage, given by Sonny Perdue, right before presenting her with her presidential medallion.
Afterward, Dr. Brundage was able to give her investiture address to all of the attendees and staff that came to the event. She discussed the long road that it took, and all of the hope for the future that lay in wake, which only gave the audience more hope for her position as the current president of ABAC.
After this, the alma mater was given, the closure was had, and the ABAC Concert Band played one more song to fit the theme- “Ode To Joy.” While it was the end of the ceremony, everybody was left with the feeling that ABAC was able to expand and become better under great leadership from this ceremony.
“It was interesting seeing how many high-level politicians and educational people came out to the investiture here at ABAC,” said Dr. David Rhode, one of the multiple professors that attended the event. “I’m hoping that we get some positive changes here, and honestly, it’s a tough time for education, so there’s quite a few challenges to keep afloat, like underlying population changes, and rising anti-intellectual movement in the United States.”
Mr. Kip Hall, a forestry professor, stated that the investiture “shows continuity. Dr. Bridges was here for a bunch of years, but now we have a new president, and the fact that he was there to basically welcome her and wish her well in the position still shows that he’s gracious to transition to a new administration.”
To all of ABAC’s faculty and staff, the investiture was extremely important towards paving a new road in general.
After the event was done, a recession was held inside Edwards Hall with food as well as more talent on display from ABAC’s Concert Band.
In the end, Dr. Brundage is ABAC’s new president, but she is more than that. She has all the skills, experience, and resources to lead this college to greener pastures. After a year of having her, it’s evident.