12 Sep Dr. Emberton’s Inauguration Set for October 4

Dr. Sherilyn Emberton (lower left) with Huntington University students.

One short statement set into motion her presidency and established the pride she has in Huntington University: “Today is a great day to become a Forester.”

Three months ago, Dr. Sherilyn Emberton entered Huntington as the 13th president of the institution. She follows a long line of successful leaders, and with that in mind, she went immediately to work creating her own legacy.

At 2:30 pm on October 4, Emberton will be inaugurated as Huntington’s president. The ceremony will take place in the Zurcher Auditorium of the Merillat Centre for the Arts. A presidential commissioning service, planned and directed by students, will be held on October 3 at College Park UB church in Huntington.

“I want to make Huntington University a better place,” Emberton said. “I want to make it a place to equip fantastic young people for the Lord.”

During the inauguration ceremony, Emberton will give an address and will be welcomed by representatives from higher education and the United Brethren Church as well as members of local, state, and national government. Participants will include U.S. Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-Ind.) and Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson.

The official inaugural address will be shared by Dr. Bud Austin, former chancellor of LeTourneau University; Dr. Dub Oliver, president of East Texas Baptist University; Dr. Eugene Habecker, president of Taylor University and the 11th president of HU; and Dr. G. Blair Dowden, immediate past president of HU.

A reception will be held immediately after the ceremony in the upper level of Habecker Dining Commons.

Emberton previously served as the provost and vice president for academic affairs at East Texas Baptist University in Marshall, Texas. She earned a Doctor of Education degree in 1999 from Texas A&M University-Commerce. She completed her undergraduate study at Stephen F. Austin State University where she received a Bachelor of Science in education degree in 1979. She earned a Master of Education degree from the same institution in 1981.

Emberton is a native Texan who was born in Irving, Texas, near Dallas. Prior to her work at East Texas Baptist, she was the provost and vice president for academic affairs at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tenn. Upon completing her doctorate, she was hired by LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas, to lead its new teacher education program. In 2005, she was named the associate vice president for academic affairs for the institution.

Emberton has extensive experience with diversity initiatives and academic program development, having launched graduate programs in counseling, education, law, medicine, nursing, religion, and sports leadership. In addition to her background in higher education, she has extensive knowledge of the business field, having worked as a broker and owner in real estate development and management companies over a 10-year period.

Emberton began her tenure at HU on June 1, having succeeded Dr. G. Blair Dowden who retired on May 31. He served the university for 22 years. She is the first woman to serve as president of Huntington in 116-year history.

11 Sep HU’s Retention Rate Up to Nearly 80%

This year, Huntington University saw its highest freshman-to-sophomore retention rate in more than a decade. Retention rose from 73% last year to the current 79.5%.

Two of the reasons: freezing tuition, and the university’s Loan Repayment Program.

To lessen the economic burden on students, the HU Board of Trustees voted in January to freeze tuition for the 2013-14 school year. The university also continues to offer its Loan Repayment Program which offers assistance to students with paying their loans after graduation.

With the Loan Repayment Program, if a graduate’s annual salary is below $20,000, the program will reimburse the graduate for the entire amount of their loan payments. As the graduate’s income grows to $36,000, the benefit is reduced proportionally.

Huntington piloted the program five years ago. Last year, it served nearly 40 percent of the undergraduate student body.

11 Sep HU Student Body Stands at 1,113

This fall Huntington University welcomed a total of 1,113 students:

• 943 traditional undergraduate students.
• 110 adult students.
• 60 graduate students.

The new student class this year totals 267.

Huntington students this year represent 31 states, 21 countries, and a wide range of ethnicities. Of the 943 undergraduate students, 42 are international students and 72 are ethnic minorities.

Overall, Huntington has the most diverse undergraduate student population–both in terms of total numbers and percentage of enrollment–in school history.

“I’m very encouraged and enthused about the progress we have made in this important area of our student family,” said Jeff Berggren, senior vice president for Enrollment Management and Marketing. “As a Christ-centered campus, we should be more reflective of the full body of Christ.”