CAMPUS NEWS
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
05/28/02
Inaugural Address of Jerry L. Hardee, Ed.D.
Presented May 24, 2002, at Sherman College
For more about
Dr. Hardee,
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Drs. Thom and Betty Gelardi, members of the
board of trustees, honored guests, local
officials and representatives of the various
colleges and universities, learned societies,
administrators, faculty, staff, alumni, students
and friends, other platform guests, thank you
for your presence this evening to share in this
celebration of my installation as the third
president of Sherman College of Straight
Chiropractic.
I want to especially thank the members of my
family and the many friends from various levels
of my career and those who have been involved as
members of my church family. Many of you have
traveled great distances to share this special
occasion with me. Thank you. You have played a
significant role in helping me to be who I am
today. I also thank Mrs. Susan Newlin and the
inaugural committee for their hard work in
making this event a success.
In my personal life, my parents, Rev. and Mrs.
C. S. Hardee (Big Momma and Big Daddy -- my
heroes): at a time when it would have been easy
for you to give up -- you never gave up on me,
or any of your children. There aren't many
African American couples from your generation
that have produced as many college graduates as
you have, and you have always been supportive of
my endeavors. I wish that I had the time to
share a few stories of these two great people
with you.
My brother, George, and my sisters, Marvara,
Carol and LaCrisia -- I wish Betty could have
been here today to sing one day at a time.
George, you started it all when you went off to
Morehouse College with your one blue suit. I
wanted to get away from my big brother, so I
went across the street to Clark College a short
time later with my brown suit, and everyone
thought that we had two suits. They had no idea
we were wearing the same suits. I want to thank
you on behalf of the entire family for leading
the way.
My wife Wyonnie: you've taught me to be patient
and I am still a work in progress; but thank
you. Sidney, I've learned from you what dogged
determination is -- I wish Gerald could be here
this evening, too.
From a professional standpoint, I want to
personally thank several individuals who have
certainly impacted my career in various ways.
Dr. Hugh Bailey, retired president of Valdosta
State University: Hugh and Joan, you've taught
me how, even in difficult times, to maintain a
sense of dignity and professionalism. Leon
"Skipper" Lomax, my high school coach, teacher,
colleague at Fort Valley State University,
golfing partner, mentor and friend: you taught
me perseverance. You are the only person I know
who could convince a team that is 20 points down
with a minute to go in football or basketball
that it had a chance to win. A member of the
Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, the only coach to
win state championships in football, basketball
and track in the same year. It took me a long
time to understand that it was about winning in
life.
Drs. Thom and Betty Gelardi, you have taught me
that it is all right to dream and that many
people are dreamers. You are dream makers. Thank
you for your friendship and the confidence in
handing over your dream to me for safe keeping
-- I won't let you down.
When I agreed to become president of Sherman
College, I promised the Board of Trustees that I
would do all that is within my power to preserve
the mission and vision upon which Sherman
College was founded. In doing so, I promised to
work on three immediate goals for the
institution and two long-term or continuous
goals:
First, to produce competent doctors of
chiropractic -- well grounded in the philosophy,
science, and art of chiropractic -- and to
create an outstanding learning environment for
these future chiropractors.
Second, I agreed to ensure that the institution
continues to meet and adhere to the standards of
the Council on Chiropractic Education and also
those of the Southern Association of Colleges
and Schools; accreditation legitimizes what we
are doing as an educational institution.
And third, I agreed to ensure that we position
our curriculum in critical areas with
reorganization, additions, strategies and
improved methodologies to ensure that our
students continue to be well-prepared and
further improve their scores on national board
examinations.
The final two goals are separate from the first
three but no less important -- in fact they are,
perhaps, equally important. They are:
Fourth, to significantly increase the student
enrollment at Sherman College with competent and
qualified students who meet all the criteria
outlined in the new admission standards.
And finally, it is crucial that we lessen the
college's dependence on tuition for its daily
operations. We must create and find alternative
funding sources for Sherman College.
As part of our ongoing assessment and evaluation
of programs, Sherman College is revising the
wording of its mission statement. To paraphrase,
since it has not yet been finalized by the Board
of Trustees, Sherman College's mission is to
educate students as doctors of chiropractic,
qualified to serve humanity as primary health
care providers centered on vertebral subluxation.
This revised mission statement includes three
areas: education, research and service. Sherman
College has an outstanding educational program;
it will only continue to improve under the
direction of Dr. Laura Weeks and the Sherman
College faculty. Our research program is also
excellent -- and with additional external
funding, it will expand and become world class
under the guidance of Dr. Edward Owens.
Our clinic (under the supervision of Dr. Michael
Clusserath), the clinic faculty and our student
interns are involved in many community relations
activities such as public education about the
benefits of chiropractic care and spinal checks.
The clinical program will continue to prosper
under his direction.
We also want to continue to debate and discuss
philosophical issues, Dr. Pennacchio, but most
importantly, our students must be well grounded
at the outset in the Sherman vision and
philosophical understanding of chiropractic.
Other institutional service components such as
planning and evaluation led by Mrs. Susan Newlin,
public relations, admissions, continuing
education, the registrar's office and student
services continue to receive high marks from
agencies and students. Our Business and Finance
Office, led by Mr. Tim Revels, ensures that we
are highly responsible stewards of the
institution's resources. Our physical facilities
and grounds, as you can attest, are attractive
and well kept.
This evening we Stand Proud and we Step Forward
-- together. The journey upon which we are about
to embark is an extension of the one begun
almost 30 years ago. We have come through
difficult times -- some related to finances,
some related to ideological differences, and
others related to accreditation -- but we have
persevered, and we shall continue to grow
stronger.
During the difficult times, many of you stood
proud and then you stepped forward and gave your
full support. In some cases, you stood proud and
helped us boost morale when it may not have been
politically correct to do so -- but you did, and
we thank you.
Having been an educator for more than 40 years,
I know that educational standards are important.
In fact, institutions should have many areas
that exceed the standards for the various
programs that are evaluated. But from my
experience, I also know that an institution
should not be totally driven by external
standards; otherwise, the institution will lose
its mission focus. We are intelligent
chiropractic educators; therefore we should set
the example for collegiality, cooperation and
tolerance.
There is a saying that if a person is not
willing to stand for something, he is sure to
fall for anything. So, our theme for Lyceum and
for me personally as president is very fitting.
We stand proud today for what Sherman College
is: an institution dedicated to producing
doctors of chiropractic who specialize in
locating, analyzing and correcting vertebral
subluxations. We stand proud of our past and
look forward to the future with great optimism.
We stand proud of the history and heritage of
Sherman College and of what it has meant to the
profession. Thursday evening (May 23) we honored
those who have contributed significantly to the
development, growth and endurance of Sherman
College by inducting them into our Heritage
Society. In forming this society, we honor and
thank those who have contributed substantially
to the health and welfare of Sherman College.
We stand proud of our alumni, more than 2,000
strong, and of our supporters who stuck with us
as we gained accreditation and licensure
acceptance across the country.
We stand proud of our philosophical underpinning
and our determination to be scientifically
learned in the basic and clinical sciences -- as
is ensured by Drs. Wise, Ravikumar and
Clusserath, as well as the college's faculty and
support staff.
We stand proud and ready to work in a spirit of
cooperation to advance our institution and the
profession, and we will seize opportunities to
do so without compromising our beliefs.
We stand proud of our students, who have their
future in terms of what they expect in a
chiropractic education in our trust -- we will
make you proud of us now and in the future.
We stand proud in announcing that at the
Presidential Ball (held Saturday, May 25), a
brief mortgage burning ceremony will signify
that Sherman College will be a debt-free campus.
We stand proud of Dr. Thomas Gelardi and what he
has meant to Sherman College and the
chiropractic profession. His influence and the
impact that he has made and will continue to
make in the profession will be long lasting, and
we are grateful for his commitment, passion and
contributions.
Now, we step forward in launching a
multi-million dollar campaign to ensure the
long-term future of Sherman College -- checks
and credit cards are now being accepted, and I'm
sure that Dr. Leroy Moore will be happy to meet
with you following this ceremony. He and his
assistants in the advancement office are skilled
at caring for your donations.
One of the first initiatives in this
fund-raising campaign will be the preservation
of the Sherman College history and culture. Dr.
John Hart has been named the initial curator/
archivist of the Brown House Museum. He recently
has been successful in securing a chiropractic
history display, which is now on display in the
Brown House Museum.
We step forward as we utilize funds from this
campaign to enhance the Sherman College
endowment. The endowment fund will allow certain
programs to continue without interruption, which
is essential to building a strong academic
program.
We step forward as our curriculum review
committee works diligently to revise the
curriculum and make it even more
student-friendly. It has completed an intensive,
in-depth curriculum review and designed
curriculum revisions to include:
* Revised course sequencing providing a more
effective sequence of anatomy, physiology,
pathology, philosophy and technique courses to
ensure earlier eligibility and relevant study
for National Board exams,
* A possible two-track curriculum: a 16-quarter
regular curriculum and a 14-quarter accelerated
curriculum for students who qualify and prefer
the more rigorous completion pace,
* Enhanced instruction in technique and case
management and
* Enhanced training in skills for practice
success.
We step forward as we seek ways to continually
improve current facilities and complete the
building projects already planned.
During this little discourse, I mentioned
philosophy and science -- the purists among you
probably have already noticed that I did not
mention art, but I deliberately saved it for
last. It is rare that one can be good at
something with out practice.
Artists always believe that the next piece of
art will be better than the previous one. Mrs.
Helen McMike Brown is an excellent example. At a
time when she could sit back and talk about her
work -- she continues to create, construct and
paint. Obviously, she thinks that she can do
better, so she keeps working. Dr. Judy Campanale
said as much last evening: "A good adjustment is
a work of art, and the next one ought to be
better than the previous."
Skills must be practiced and enjoyed. Tiger
Woods is a great example. Those of you who know
me realize that it is difficult for me to close
a presentation without a vignette related to
golf. On Sunday, Tiger dons his red shirt
signifying that the match is on, but it is not
for the people or for his opponents -- it is for
him. He says to himself, "This is why I get up
at 4 a.m. to lift weights for two hours each
day, then hit 500 balls and putt until I make
100 in a row."
So, the art emerges when one practices.
Chiropractors are artists, but to excel, one
must practice the art. Sherman will produce
doctors who are skilled in the art of
chiropractic.
Finally, I want to thank, once again, these
outstanding administrators, faculty, staff and
students for their support -- our journey is
just beginning. But, working together, we will
move this great institution to even greater
heights. Dr. Gelardi and the members of the
board, I accept the challenges you have set
forth, and I pledge to reward your trust in me
as the third president of Sherman College. Thank
you.
Sherman College President
Jerry L. Hardee, Ed.D.
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