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Convocation Convocation LANGSTON UNIVERSITY LANGSTON UNIVERSITY 2026 FORMAL 2026 FORMALOPENING OPENING
STATE OFTHE THE UNIVERSITY ADDRESS STATE OF UNIVERSITY ADDRESS
RUTH RAY JACKSON, PH. D. RUTH RAY JACKSON, PH. D. PRESIDENT
PRE SI DE NT
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
11:00 A.M. I.W. YOUNG AUDITORIUM THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
11:00 A.M. I.W. YOUNG AUDITORIUM
“Dear Langston”
ALMA MATER
Words by Samuel Sadler Music by F.J. Work
First Verse High on a throne with royal mien, Our Hope and our mother stand. All gaze with pride upon the scene High o’er the silv’ry strand; All gaze with pride upon the scene Where our hope and our mother stand. Chorus Dear Langston, Dear Langston Thy sons and daughters brave Will strive on with courage Their honored shrine to save. With a “Sis! Boom! Bah! And a Hip! Hurrah!” With a “Hip-hur-rah!” We rally to Langston, Dear Langston, to thee. Second Verse If ever man should dare bring low Thy blazoned banner high, We’ll battle with the vicious foe And for thy honor die. We’ll strive and overcome the foe, Or for thy honor die.
Lift Every Voice and Sing Words by Samuel Sadler Written by James Welden Johnson
Lift every voice and sing, Till earth and heaven ring, Ring with the harmonies of Liberty; Let our rejoicing rise High as the list’ning skies, Let it resound loud as the rolling sea. Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us, Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us; Facing the rising sun of our new day begun, Let us march on till victory is won.
RUTH RAY RUTH JACKSON, RAY JACKSON, PH. D. PH. D. PRES IDENT PRES IDENT
Dr. Ruth Ray Jackson Dr. serves Ruth as the Ray17th Jackson serves as the 17th President of Langston University. President ofAsLangston University. As president of Dear Langston, president Dr. Jackson of Dear isLangston, Dr. Jackson is the institution’s chief executive the institution’s officer. chief She isexecutive officer. She is focused on advancing the focused University’s on advancing the University’s academic programs, providing academic a memorable programs, providing a memorable campus experience, andcampus embracing experience, the and embracing the institution’s land-grant institution’s mission. land-grant mission. Possessing extensive academic Possessing administrative extensive academic administrative experience, Dr. Jacksonexperience, has a strongDr. record Jackson has a strong record of teaching, service, andofscholarship. teaching, service, Beforeand scholarship. Before joining Langston University joininginLangston 2014, sheUniversity in 2014, she spent 11 years at Louisiana spentState 11 years University at Louisiana State University in Shreveport. Before transitioning in Shreveport. to Before higher transitioning to higher education, Dr. Jackson education, worked as aDr. high Jackson worked as a high school English teacher,school assistant English principal, teacher, assistant principal, and principal in public and education. principal in public education. President Jackson earned President a Ph.D.Jackson in earned a Ph.D. in Education and Human Education Resources and Studies Human Resources Studies from Colorado State University. from Colorado She holds Statea University. She holds a master's degree in educational master's administration degree in educational administration and supervision as welland as asupervision Bachelor ofas well as a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary ScienceEducation degree infrom Secondary Education from Southern University and Southern A&M College. University Dr. and A&M College. Dr. Jackson serves on the Board Jackson of Visitors serves onfor the Board of Visitors for Howard University's Graduate Howard School University's and Graduate School and the Edmond (OK) Public the Schools Edmond (OK) Public Schools Foundation. She is alsoFoundation. active in several She is also active in several community organizations. community organizations. Prior to moving to Oklahoma, Prior to Dr. moving Jackson to Oklahoma, Dr. Jackson was a member of Goodwill was aIndustries member of of Goodwill Industries of North Louisiana’s Board North of Directors, Louisiana’s ending Board of Directors, ending her tenure as Vice-Chairman her tenure of the as Vice-Chairman Board. of the Board. She also volunteered with She Court also volunteered Appointed with Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). Special Active Advocates in several (CASA). Active in several organizations, Dr. Jackson organizations, continues to Dr.work Jackson continues to work with Alpha Kappa Alpha with Sorority, Alpha Inc. Kappa andAlpha Sorority, Inc. and Jack and Jill of America, Jack Inc.and SheJilland of her America, Inc. She and her husband John are the proud husband parents JohnofareLeah, the proud parents of Leah, a college student. a college student.