Dr. Elmore's Presidential Investiture Speech
September 16, 2025 | Speech
Good afternoon,
What a humbling and joyful day this is. To stand here, surrounded by my loving family,
friends, colleagues, and the community that has shaped Lamar State College Orange,
fills me with both gratitude and excitement for what lies ahead.
I want to begin by thanking the Texas State University System, Chancellor McCall, and the Board of Regents for the trust you have placed in me to lead this amazing institution. To our extraordinary faculty and staff, your tireless work and your devotion to students inspire me daily. To our legislative leaders, community partners, and our Foundation — your belief in our mission strengthens everything we do. And to our students — you are the reason we are here. Your courage, determination, and dreams give true meaning to our work.
I deeply thank my family who are here today both physically and in spirit for standing by my side every step of the journey that led me to today. And I’m so grateful to the many friends who have traveled to support and celebrate me and LSCO this afternoon.
President Emeritus Shahan – thank you for sharing your expertise and wisdom with Lamar State College Orange for over two decades where you led through some difficult times for higher education. I also honor today the extraordinary leadership of President Emeritus Johnson. Over his seven years as President, this college transformed in remarkable ways — record-breaking enrollments, new and expanded programs, stronger community partnerships, and renovated facilities that distinctly reshaped our beautiful college. His vision and commitment gave LSCO a momentum that is alive and thriving today.
It is an amazing privilege to follow in his footsteps and to carry forward the torch of leadership at this remarkable institution. I will forever be grateful.
However, what inspires me most about LSCO is not the numbers or the milestones — it’s the people. It’s the students whose lives are changed here every single day.
It’s the single mother, who after a full day of work, comes to class at night, determined to earn a degree that will create a better future for her and her children. She finds here not only faculty who teach with energy and passion, but advisors and staff who encourage her when the weight feels too heavy to continue.
It’s the high school student from a small rural town, who becomes the first in their family to ever attend college. At LSCO, they discover not just textbooks and classrooms, but mentors who open doors to opportunities they never even dreamed were possible.
It’s the worker from our own community who lost a job in a changing economy but found at Lamar State College Orange the chance to retrain in healthcare, maritime, or industrial fields — and who now supports a family while strengthening the workforce of Southeast Texas.
These stories are the heartbeat of this college. They are why we say with pride and conviction: Your Future is Our Focus.
And these stories do not happen in isolation. They happen because of the resilient and supportive community we call Orange.
This is a community that has weathered storms; both literal and figurative. Hurricanes, floods, and economic challenges have tested us time and again. But each time, Orange has risen with strength, with compassion, and with unity.
When our students need resources, this community steps in. When our campus dreams of new programs or partnerships, this community says, “How can we help?” When challenges come — as they always will — Orange proves that resilience is not just a word here, rather it is a way of life.
And that is why LSCO is not just a college in Orange — we are a college of Orange, with Orange, and for Orange.
As we look to the future, my vision is clear: to expand access, to strengthen support, and to fuel opportunity for even more people in this community and throughout the great state.
We will keep college affordable and accessible, so that no student is turned away because of cost.
We will continue to grow academic and workforce programs that meet the needs of today while preparing for the challenges of tomorrow.
We will invest in facilities that reflect our students’ potential — spaces that inspire creativity, innovation, and collaboration.
And we will walk beside every student, from the moment they apply until the day they graduate, making sure they know they are never alone on their journey. Their future is our focus.
Friends today is not about one person, certainly not me. It is about all of us. It is about the faculty who ignite curiosity in the classroom, the staff who carefully and thoughtfully guide students through their obstacles, the community that surrounds us with support, and the students who remind us why this work matters.
Together, we are writing the next chapter of Lamar State College Orange.
We are over 4,500 students strong. We are a community with resilience, with heart, and with determination. And together, we are moving full speed ahead — building on the foundation laid by those who came before us, seizing the opportunities of today, and shaping a future filled with promise for the students and families of Southeast Texas and beyond.
Thank you for this opportunity. I am humbled and honored to serve such an amazing
college, a supportive system, a resilient community, and a great state.
Wendy Elmore, Ed.D.
President
Lamar State College Orange