“Serving as the President of Austin College has been the honor and privilege of a lifetime. Over these last nine years, I have been humbled by the depth of love that so many have for Austin College.”
Dear Friends,
It is bittersweet to write my last President’s Letter for Austin College Magazine. I want to begin by expressing my heartfelt gratitude for my time here and for all the support you have given me. Serving as the President of Austin College has been the honor and privilege of a lifetime. Over these last nine years, I have been humbled by the depth of love that so many have for Austin College. My appreciation for the value of servant leadership, patience, persistence, good humor, empathy, and the commitment to collaboration has deepened beyond description. This has been the toughest, greatest job in the world. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Though this is my last year at Austin College, things are certainly not slowing down. It has been another year of incredible support and achievements. I am proud to leave the College in such good standing and with plenty of momentum to bolster our next President, Dr. Rebecca Cantor, as she leads the College into the next chapter. I have the utmost confidence in her ability to continue building on Austin College’s extraordinary tradition of excellence.
This year, the college approved a new B.S. in Engineering, which is sure to attract new students, and we have announced plans to construct a
new facility to house that program. As part of the Campus Renewal Initiative, we have refreshed Zauk Circle to serve as an ever-more-beautiful gateway to campus. These campus enhancements also extend into some key student spaces. In 2026, Austin College will celebrate 150 years since the campus was moved from Huntsville to Sherman. I’d like to think that in that 150-year history, the campus has never been more inviting.
This issue of Austin College Magazine also includes stories of many things that make Austin College unique. These include alumni who have embraced unexpected paths, long-standing connections with the arts in our Texoma community, stories of students supporting each other and exploring applied learning opportunities that have taken them unexpected places (from the Denison Dam to the State Capitol and all the way across the Pacific), and even a story that includes some Girl Scouts roasting marshmallows on campus. I am honored that this issue also includes a feature story that highlights my and Cece’s time on campus.
I have joked that I will be “graduating” with the Class of 2026. Like those seniors, I am excited about the next phase of my life but am sure that I will miss this place that Cece and I have called home these last nine years. That depth of love for Austin College is now something that we share, and like those graduates, I will always hold Austin College and ’RooNation close to my heart.
With deepest gratitude,
STEVEN P. O’DAY, J.D., L.H.D.
President
Austin College