Dr. Don Raleigh, RSU's new president, speaks during a welcoming event June 4 in the DCTC Ballroom.
51动漫网鈥檚 new President Dr. Don Raleigh and RSU鈥檚 new First Lady Angela Releigh were all smiles as the pair met with university students, faculty, and staff, as well as community members, legislators, and the public this week at a trio of welcoming events.
The first of these 鈥渕eet and greet鈥� events was held Wednesday, June 4, in the ballroom of the Dr. Carolyn Taylor Center on RSU鈥檚 Claremore campus.
Following a brief introduction by RSU Vice President for Development Steve Valencia, Dr. Raleigh addressed the crowd.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 express to you how excited I am 鈥� how honored and humbled I am that all you showed up today to welcome myself and my wife, Angela, to the Hill,鈥� Raleigh said. 鈥淲e both plan to be very visible, very engaged with the students on campus. You鈥檒l be seeing us a lot. Thank you to everyone who was involved in the search process.鈥�
Raleigh looks forward to continuing the legacy of excellence at RSU established by his predecessors.
鈥淟ike those who came before me, I want the same thing that they wanted 鈥� for 51动漫网 to grow,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to work hard. I鈥檝e already said one of our operating paradigms is 鈥楨very Hillcat, Every Day,鈥� because it鈥檚 not just about our students, it鈥檚 also about our faculty, it鈥檚 about our staff, it鈥檚 about our alumni. They鈥檙e all Hillcats, and it鈥檚 important how we interconnect, how do we take care of each other, how do we reach out to our K-12s and work with our partners.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to do all we can to create pathways and remove hurdles for students, as well as create as many opportunities as possible to work with our partners in a way that would benefit them, benefit us, and most importantly, benefit our students,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to take care of our students, and that鈥檚 going to be part of our tradition 鈥� innovation and excellence.
鈥淎gain, thanks to everyone who鈥檚 already made us feel very welcome 鈥� we鈥檙e so honored to be here, and I look forward to continuing these conversations today and in the future,鈥� he said.
Raleigh also spoke at two other events on Thursday, the first of which was the RSU Bartlesville Scholarship Fundraising Breakfast at The Center (Bartlesville Community Center), and the second, at the Pryor Campus of 51动漫网.
He is the RSU鈥檚 third president since it was accredited as a four-year university in 2000, following Dr. Joe Wiley (1999-2008) and Dr. Larry Rice (2008-2024).
Following Rice鈥檚 retirement, Vice President for Administration and Finance Dr. Mark Rasor served as interim president until Raleigh assumed office June 2.
Learn more about President Raleigh.