One frontier into another
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- Published on 08 May 2012
- Written by Jenn Lampila
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Carter rides for Doane.
In a nod to Doane’s leaders who came before him, Dr. Jacque Carter, Doane’s twelfth president, stepped into their shoes.
In more ways that one he looked into the past at Doane’s founders and articulated a vision for the college’s future during a weekend of inauguration events May 3-5.
“How Doane responds now will bare on our ability to advance,” Carter said in his inaugural address on Saturday afternoon. “Living at the beginning of a new frontier, we can draw on the experience of our hard-scrabbled beginnings.”
Carter spoke of Doane’s past on Friday afternoon at “Doane Past and Present,” a historical presentation where he played the college’s first president, David Brainerd Perry along side Dr. Tom King as Founder Thomas Doane and students who took on the real-life roles of early students. They acted from a script based on life in Doane’s founding years as an academy, then on the hill.
Carter rode onto campus Friday on a horse, echoing Perry, who hitched his horse on a post still represented on campus. Carter prepared for this role much like he prepared for his role as Doane’s leader.
He began riding lessons in November with Tricia and Jeff Brown of Thunderstruck Farms. Perry’s horse, played by El Sapo, is owned by Cindy Togstad of rural Wilber.
Ken James, Chair of the college Board of Trustees, said during the inauguration ceremony Saturday it was evident Carter did his homework on Doane before he interviewed for the position last year. Carter and his wife Judy came to Crete in July.
“It was very telling he was not just looking for a job,” James said, “but a fit of beliefs and value for himself and Judy.”
Ceremony speaker Jane Alexander, actress and environmental activist and a friend of Carter, said his love of science is matched only be his love of the arts.
Laura Jacob, current Student Congress President said she felt connected to Carter as they both took on new responsibilities this last year.
“He has embraced the Tiger spirit,” she said, “It is not uncommon to see him on your way to class.”
Dr. Heather Lambert gave faculty observations. She said they were inspired by his commitment to the liberal arts and his genuineness to “learning our past and navigating our future.”
Crete Mayor Roger Foster cited a 1972 plaque in City Hall commemorating 100 years of the city and of the college, as partners in common goals.
Carter addressed goals and challenges for the college’s future, including technology and sustainability. He held up an iPad to illustrate what every student should have in the classroom.
“Our vision must be bold and ambitious. It must be to meet the needs and challenges of our future. We can’t do it alone. We need partners,” he said.
In his work as a Marine biologist, Carter found the worth of good partners.
“It is better to know someone with a boat than to own one.”
Reading as Perry on Friday, Carter, with students and King, outlined the founding of a college on the hill, its partners, struggles, early amusements and accomplishments.
“I have been extremely supportive of the College because I always regretted not receiving a liberal education. I believe ‘a college training would have made me more useful as a citizen, given me greater power of discernment, and of influencing my fellow man.” King said in his role as Doane.
Carter’s roles, past and present, over the weekend, link Doane’s early days to those ahead.
“Doane College changes itself with the well being of its students during the twenty-four hours of the day.
While too many enterprises in this new country are typified by Jonah’s gourd, Doane’s growth is better typified by the oak - steady and solid.”
– David Brainerd Perry, First President of Doane College.
“We can rekindle the frontier spirit of our founders and find our renewed frontier spirit.
Doane is still a young college in spirit, energy and purpose.”
-Jacque Carter, Twelfth President of Doane College.