ABOVE: Program participants, faculty, and other special guests stand with TSU President Lesia L. Crumpton-Young following the Investiture ceremony
April 30th will go down in the archives as a historic day for Texas Southern University (TSU).
It marked a day of transformation, with new TSU President Lesia L. Crumpton-Young’s investiture in the morning, followed by the inaugural President’s Tiger Ball, presented by the TSU Foundation Board of Trustees.
TSU President Lesia L. Crumpton-Young formally sworn in during Investiture ceremony
Texas Southern University formally swore in its 13th President, Dr. Lesia L. Crumpton-Young, as part of the Investiture ceremony on Saturday, April 30, 2022. An investiture is typically held within a president’s first year in office, representing a significant milestone in the history of Texas Southern University, as it is one of the oldest traditions in academia. President Crumpton-Young’s Investiture honors TSU’s academic tradition, celebrating its institutional history and symbolizing a new era of transformation in the life of the University.
At Saturday’s Investiture ceremony, Albert H. Myres, chair of the TSU Board of Regents, served as the presiding officer. In addition to greetings and presentations from elected officials, including U.S. Representatives Sheila Jackson Lee, Al Green, and Sylvia Garcia, and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, former colleagues and mentors were on hand to provide their perspective on President Crumpton-Young’s innovation, transformation and disruption throughout her career. TSU faculty, staff, students and alumni were also represented during the investiture.
TSU Regents Marc C. Carter and Carolyn Baker Hurley administered the oath of office to President Crumpton-Young.
TSU President Lesia L. Crumpton-Young stands with her family (husband Reginald and daughters Mattlyn and Ashlee) following her oath of office during the Investiture
During her remarks, President Crumpton-Young spoke of the ‘Crumpton Guarantee,’ which she originally created as a faculty member, promising to her students that she would give everything she had to help ensure their success in her classes.
“To every student, every faculty member, every staff member, every alumnus, every community supporter, and, yes, the individuals I am accountable to on a day-to-day basis, the Board of Regents, I leave you with what I always gave (to my students): I guarantee that I will always be a president that leads with integrity, that subscribes to excellence, and that will always be committed to serve,” said President Crumpton-Young. “I promise that I will wake up every day focused on transforming lives. You can count on the ‘Crumpton Guarantee.’”
Later that evening, TSU hosted the inaugural President’s Tiger Ball at the George R. Brown Convention Center. This sold-out event will serve as TSU’s largest fundraiser for student scholarships and programs.
“Texas Southern University’s partners have demonstrated a willingness and readiness to invest in the success of our students who are pursuing their education on our historic campus,” said TSU President Dr. Lesia L. Crumpton-Young. “That investment will undoubtedly assist our community of scholars in achieving their academic and career goals and transform lives.”
Dr. Glenda Glover, President of Tennessee State University, gives remarks as the Higher Education Community Representative during the Investiture
A Parade of Partners accompanied by TSU’s Ocean of Soul kicked off the event, acknowledging the top sponsors and celebrating their contribution to TSU’s success.
“The Texas Southern University Foundation Board is grateful for the support of all of our sponsors, alumni and friends for making the night a success to benefit student scholarships and transformation at TSU,” said Dr. Frazier Wilson, Chairman, TSU Foundation Board of Trustees and Social Investment Manager for Shell. “We look forward to continuing our work to support the University under the direction of the Board of Regents and President Young. Together, we are TSU Proud.”
TDECU was the presenting sponsor of this year’s Tiger Ball.
“As a proud graduate of TSU’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law, I understand the significance of HBCUs and how investing in education can help transform students’ lives in our communities,” said TDECU President & CEO Isaac Johnson. “TDECU believes in helping our members navigate their financial journeys. I am intentionally expanding the reach of our organization to communities including TSU and making investments in those communities to provide access to the services we offer.
TSU President Dr. Lesia L. Crumpton-Young at the TSU Tiger Ball
Transformation sponsors (at the $100,000 level) included TDECU, JPMorgan Chase, CenterPoint Energy, Shell, Houston Texans, Houston Astros Foundation, Nicki & Benny Agosto, Jr., and Antoinette M. Jackson, Esq.
Other sponsors who donated at the $10,000-$75,000 levels included:
$75,000
- President Lesia, Reginald, Mattlyn and Ashlee Young
$50,000
- Bayway Auto Group
- Challenge Office Products
$25,000
- A-Rocket Moving and Storage
- Daffin Family
- HillDay Public Relations
- Jacobson Family Foundation
- Maurice Smith/Health Care Service Corporation
- Verizon Foundation
$15,000
- Houston First Corporation
- LaTanya Easter
- Sysco
2021-22 Mister and Miss TSU, Montgomery Morris and Mariah Campbell
$10,000
- 1Vision
- Aundrea & Richard Young
- Comcast
- Dr. Edieth Wu
- Dr. Judith L. Craven
- Houston Airports
- Michael Williams/Frost Bank
- TSU Athletics
- TSU Center for Justice Research
“Our sponsors represent the broad appeal that Texas Southern University and its students have in the community,” said Melinda Spaulding, vice president of University Advancement. “On behalf of our students, who will benefit from the generosity of these partners, we thank them for their dedication to TSU, and we look forward to working together to transform lives.”