Delaware Valley University recently celebrated the inauguration of its 14th president in a large ceremony that inspired all in attendance.

Benjamin E. Rusiloski was officially inaugurated as Delaware Valley University’s fourteenth president on Oct. 2. The inauguration ceremony, which was held in the university’s Life Sciences Building Auditorium, had more than 350 people in attendance, ranging from students, staff, faculty, trustees, former presidents of the university’s, Dr. Rusiloski’s family, his former colleagues, mentors and more.

The Master of Ceremonies and the university’s Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Gloria Oikelome, welcomed all in attendance and established a reoccurring theme that was weaved throughout the various speeches at inauguration, sharing quotes from the university’s founder, Dr. Rabbi Joseph Krauskopf.

As speakers at the inauguration referenced quotes of the university’s founder, Dr. Rusiloski took the podium to thank all in attendance and present his reflections on this momentous day.

“As the fourteenth president of DelVal, I stand on a foundation built by many great leaders. You have heard several members of the DelVal community share quotes of our founder today. These quotes explain a great deal of who we are as a community and institution. They really are the basis of our core values: Teach, learn and serve with passion and commitment. Act as one learning community with one purpose. Value the world of ideas and differences. Live each day with integrity. Respect all people. And pursue excellence. The core values are and always will be the foundation of who we are as an institution. It’s up to each of us not only to know and embrace these values, but to model them in all that we do.”

“This is a complicated time for all institutions of higher education, and particularly challenging for small universities. We face this challenge here every day, head-on individually and collectively as an institution. This is the time for us to grow in a number of strategic and essential ways. This is the time for us to invest in our roots as we broaden our reach. We will broaden our reach by adding new undergraduate and graduate programs in growing labor markets and burgeoning fields where our students will find high quality, first destinations post-graduation that will lead them on their career trajectory.”

At the festival, students showcased their vegetables, legumes, fruit, beef and more, which they grew and harvested for guests to enjoy. There were also table displays for student-run clubs and organizations with demonstrations, club information and activities, plus hayrides to South Campus for apple picking, pumpkins, and DelVal’s first-ever hemp maze.

Much of the food served at the Student Harvest Festival was farmed and curated on one of DelVal’s three properties that comprise the 1,000-acre campus in Bucks and Montgomery counties including main campus, The Gemmil Center in Jamison, and Roth Farm in North Wales.

Learn more about the inauguration at Delaware Valley University.