Willie D. Larkin, Ph.D.
President
To the Gramfam and ALL who embrace our love for teaching and learning, and our deep and profound love for Grambling,
Please join me in ushering in a New Year!
On behalf of your administration, Happy 2016! Professionally, 2016 serves as the pinnacle of my career – serving as your servant leader to this venerable institution, this testament to times long past, and times yet to be seen.
2016 is an exciting time! Welcome back to ALL and welcome to the “Year of the Family” – Grambling’s Family! The Gramfam!
As this New Year begins, I have sat quietly while deeply reflecting on Grambling’s rich and illustrious history. My skin quivers as I juxtapose Grambling’s past to its future potential, its brighter tomorrow.
To paraphrase Sir Isaac Newton, who stated over 340 years ago, he was only able to see further because he stood on the shoulders of giants. As the 9th President of Grambling, I can now truly appreciate his meaning. Now, I can only see due to the blood, sweat, and tears of Grambling’s founding fathers and mothers and their relentless and selflessness in building a university of prestige, dignity, and glory which we ALL enjoy today – including the State of Louisiana and the entire nation.
I humbly invite each of you, my Gramfam, to truly be part of the family. We are Grambling… We are Family. This is the “Year of the Family.”
Families work together. Families cultivate the soil. Families share in the learning. Families share in the teaching. Families live an unspoken pledge of loyalty to their family, through their actions and deeds.
Families embrace new days with glee, cheerfulness, and a positive attitude. Families see tomorrow as a brighter day.
Join me in embracing a new day of prosperity for our number one priority for 2016—Grambling State University!
Stay tuned for my quarterly updates on Grambling’s major successes and accomplishments (March, June, September, and December).
Today starts a new tradition. Each year, my presidency, and future presidencies I hope, will start each year with a “Year of _________________” 2016 is the “Year of the Family!”