The Mount Saint Mary College community, distinguished local leaders, and friends of the college celebrated the inauguration of Dr. Jason N. Adsit, the Mount’s seventh president, on Friday, September 13.
Adsit began his tenure at the Mount on June 1, 2018, succeeding interim president Dr. David A. Kennett. The college’s Board of Trustees selected Dr. Adsit following a national search and valuable input from the Mount community.He joined the Mount family from D’Youville College in Buffalo, where he served as Dean of the School of Arts, Sciences, and Education, as well as Director of the Educational Leadership Doctoral Program. As chief academic officer, Adsit oversaw all undergraduate and graduate programs in the School, including the departments of Biology and Mathematics, Business, Chemistry, Education, and Liberal Arts.
An inauguration Mass was concelebrated that morning by Cardinal Timothy Dolan; Bishop Dominick J. Lagonegro, DD; Fr. Kevin E. Mackin, OFM, fifth president of the Mount; and Fr. Gregoire J. Fluet, college chaplain and director of Campus Ministry.
At the inauguration ceremony that afternoon, college trustees, campus personnel, student leaders, and regional leaders such as William Kaplan, Newburgh businessman and philanthropist, and Sr. Ann Sakac, OP, fourth president of the Mount, were present in recognition of Dr. Adsit’s current and future service to the college.
Cardinal Dolan gave the invocation: “We are confident in your presence, Jesus… your presence we already honor on this beautiful, historic campus,” he said. “Your presence in our faculty, our Dominican Sisters, our board, our administration, so many workers, volunteers, and benefactors, especially our students. And in a particular way, we beseech your continued presence, your wisdom and guidance, upon our new president, Dr. Jason Adsit.”
Michael J. Olivette, vice president for Academic Affairs at the Mount, welcomed Dr. Adsit and an enthusiastic crowd: “Dr. Adsit’s inauguration celebrates the beginning of the Mount’s next chapter,” he said. “Under his leadership, we have embraced a vision for our future – to build upon the college’s long-standing dedication to service.”
Among those who offered words of encouragement to Dr. Adsit were Beverly Mennerich ’68, president of the Mid-Hudson Chapter of the Mount Alumni Association; Sr. Catherine McDonnell, OP ’69, prioress of the Dominican Sisters of Hope; and Nancy H. Blattner, president of Caldwell University.
“Dr. Adsit’s energy, enthusiasm, educational training, and experience make him the best person to lead this fine institution of higher learning,” said Newburgh mayor and Mount alumnus Torrance Harvey MSEd ’03. “Human compassion and empathy are the hallmarks of leadership.”
English professor James Finn Cotter offered Dr. Adsit gratitude for his leadership, his support of academic excellence, and his “lively wit and humor.” As the longest serving member of the Mount faculty, Cotter carried the ceremonial mace, emblazoned with the college’s motto, doce me veritatem (teach me the truth).
Cotter passed the mace to Dr. Kennett, who entrusted it to Dr. Adsit.
Adsit reiterated the Mount’s dedication to service and community outreach.
“We are going to become the most community service-based college in the United States. We are going to do that,” he said. “When you’re in the service of others, you’re in the service of God.”
He added, “Pour yourself out. Light the lamp. Spark a change. Put yourself last and discover the authentic person who is revealed through your selfless acts of service. Because then you will find peace. Peace be upon all of you.”