Baker University students, faculty, staff, alumni, former presidents and other dignitaries were all present Oct. 26 at the inauguration of University President Pat Long to welcome her as the 28th President of Baker.After a prelude by the Baker University Brass, a processional led by bagpipe players and a song sang by the Baker University Concert Choir, Robert Honse, Chair of the Board of Trustees, welcomed everyone and recognized special guests. He also acknowledged the rarity of the occurrence of a presidential inauguration.”We haven’t done this in almost 20 years, and the machinery may be a bit rusty,” Honse said.Honse also recognized Long’s work so far at Baker.”In her first full month, she has made the Search Committee & Board of Trustees look good indeed,” he said.Long’s friend Jacqueline Snyder, Chancellor of the Metropolitan Community Colleges, was one of the speakers at the ceremony.”She developed her philosophy of education and passion for the success of every student at the community college, but it is her passion for life,” Snyder said. “We all have a purpose in life. Pat was placed here to lead and to serve.” Another speaker was Scott Jones, Bishop of the Kansas area of the United Methodist Church. Jones spoke about Baker’s future.”A lot has changed in the years since Baker University was founded so many years ago, but the future can be bright,” Jones said. “I am deeply grateful that Pat Long has agreed to be the president of Baker University.”Other speakers included student representative Nancy Dill, Walt Bailey, longest tenured faculty member at Baker and Douglas Adams, president of the Baker University Alumni Association.Steve Ballard, Chancellor of East Carolina University, introduced Long at the inauguration. Ballard worked with Long at UMKC.”There is no one in higher education that I respect more than Pat Long,” Ballard said. Ballard also talked about Long’s leadership ability.”We live at a time when almost all large institutions are viewed with skepticism. I know this about Pat Long: she will lead with integrity, she will be trustworthy, she will play it straight. Pat’s judgment comes from her values & principles, and she leads from them.”When all the speeches had been made, Long spoke about the people at Baker and her goals for Baker. “For our students, one of the big issues we have is to ensure that all students can attend here,” Long said.She announced that her goal of raising the university’s endowment fund to over $100,000 had been reached when she received a letter from 1974 alumnus Doug Goppard, who contributed to increase the scholarship endowment.”We had a wonderful letter that came in Tuesday from Goppard Family Foundation, with a check for $200,000 for scholarships,” Long said.Long also spoke about new building projects she would like to see come underway, including a new science building and new residence halls.”We know our students deserve the best,” Long said. “We’ve come up with a wonderful plan that will preserve Mulvane Hall and have an addition to that building that will provide the finest science facilities.” Long said she hopes the building will be completed in late 2009 or 2010.Long talked about the university acquiring land to build a facility that would have 200 beds.”We would love to open that new residence hall by 2008.”