Suakoko, Bong County – The 169 newly minted graduates of Cuttington University School of Graduate and Professional Studies and President Herman Browne bid farewell to the university at the 14th Commencement Convocation on April 17.
Dr. Romelle Horton, former Vice President for Academic Support Services of the African Methodist University, will replace Browne as president of the university.
In his farewell message, Browne said: “When the post lockdown resumed October 2020, it became clear that we might have carried the university as far as we could possibly; and we informed the Board that come August 2021, we will not seek to renew our contract.”
He added: “With honor we took up this assignment as president of the university, and with honor, today, we lay it down. We deem it prudent to remove ourselves from Cuttington equation, on an occasion as auspicious as this.”
“Cuttington is in good hands with the choice of our successor. We will at this convocation, turn over the seal of office to an admired and respected alumina of Cuttington University.”
Browne, who leaves Cuttington after five years to contest the upcoming election for new Bishop of the Episcopal Church of Liberia, one last time implored students — as he often has — to take on the world’s troubles.
“Courage to tackle the most difficult problems and venture into uncharted territory is critical for any institution, and it’s also critical for you. In so many institutions, fear and mediocrity track along the same well-worn paths. Avoid those paths at all cost,” he said.
“Don’t be too precious. Be clear, say what you mean, and try to speak so that you can be understood by any person of goodwill. Please know that you have all received one of the greatest educations available to humankind.”
“So despite your ability to dive into the esoteric, you now have an enormous responsibility to make yourself understandable to the diverse and interconnected world into which you are graduating.”
“That will take work. Don’t hide behind your elite education — make it work for you and especially make it work for others,” said Brown.
Browne’s address to students, who following tradition receive the words while standing, came at the end of a two-hour ceremony on a sunny, warm day that included the conferment of an Honorary Doctorate Degree to a 1989 graduate of the university and Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, Sidie Mohamed Tunis.
Tunis, who also served as keynote speaker, told the graduating students that the world is enriched by “the vital role of the people who said ‘yes’ when most others said ‘no.’
“The world is slanted toward ‘no.’ It’s easier to tear something down than to build something up. It’s easier to poke holes in an idea than it is to think of ways to fill them. And it’s easier to focus on the 100 reasons you shouldn’t do something rather than the one reason you should.
“You don’t have to create the next Google to be a builder and make an impact. Each and every one of us can make daily choices to build things up rather than tear them down,” said Tunis.