Inauguration speakers salute HPU's Qubein as inspirational leader
By Thomas Russell -- Furniture Today, October 18, 2006
High Point — After 21 months on the job, Nido Qubein is officially the seventh president of High Point University.
An Oct. 7 inauguration held at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church drew about 2,000 university officials, alumni, students and community members including many from the furniture industry, which has supported the university and its programs.
Qubein, who also serves on the board of La-Z-Boy board of directors, began the job in January 2005. His inauguration was delayed the school has been busy with a $100 million fund-raising campaign that is fueling a three-year capital improvement program on campus.
Thus far, Qubein has helped raise $68 million, which is helping pay for the construction of 11 new buildings and the renovations of 13 others, as well as initiatives in student life, academic programs, scholarships and faculty development.
Speakers at the event included North Carolina Lt. Gov. Beverly Purdue, High Point Mayor Becky Smothers; Lenora Billings-Harris, president of the National Speakers Assn.; Marsha Slane, chairman of the university Board of Trustees, and Bob Brown, chairman of High Point public relations and consulting firm B&C Associates.
"Today, we know the American dream is still alive because we can see it at work before our eyes. This country is blessed because a young man named Nido Qubein came to this country without power, without money and without being able to speak the language," said Brown, in reference to Qubein's arrival to the U.S. as a teenager from Lebanon with just $50.
"You are a living testimony that a person can still succeed against the odds if you have enough courage, are willing to sacrifice and give it all that you have," he said.
"We know Dr. Qubein has been successful in many endeavors," said Billings-Harris, who recalled an incident where Qubein gave as much of his attention to a hotel bellman as he did to other officials at a speaking event. "Then I knew Nido Qubein was not only successful, but that he was a man of substance."
That also rings true with young people who have benefited from Qubein's student-centered leadership style.
"It's not just the improvements and upgrades," said Joshua Faucette, president of the university's Student Government Assn. "It's the intangible things that you can't see. From the students' perspective, there is nothing more comforting than to have a president in place who cares about the students and makes the students their number one priority. ...We want to thank you for being our friend. It is your relationship with us that makes High Point University a great place to be."
In his inaugural address, Qubein thanked Jacob Martinson, who served as president from 1986 to 2004, for his improvements to the campus and for "leaving it a much better place than he found it."
He described his service to his alma mater as a calling from God that came when he least expected it.
"On this morning, I declare to you that I am but a servant and disciple who responded to the call to return to my alma mater to serve its noble purpose, to sustain its impeccable reputation and to secure its future among the prestigious universities in the land," he said.
While the university has seen increases in student enrollment, inquiries and student visits, he acknowledged that the work is far from finished.
In describing the university's mission, he said officials must continue to nurture a vigorous academic program and support it with a growing library and ample classroom resources.
Second, he said, the university must enhance student life and provide individuals a positive growth experience that serves them long after they graduate.
He also said the university must maintain fiduciary responsibility and provide support to students who show leadership and scholastic achievement. Lastly, he said, the school must maintain a top spot in its peer group by building, improving and maintaining campus facilities.
In fulfilling the mission, everyone plays an important role and "each drop in the ocean does make a difference," he said.
"Clearly our primary focus at High Point University is education," he said. "We exist to provide an extraordinary education for each of our students at every turn and in every way. What I admire about our family of faculty and staff is that they place emphasis on authenticity over charisma, on substance over style, on reason over emotion, on discovery over dialogue, on private influence over public impressions."
As he continues as president, he promised to lead with passion, perseverance and proper perspective.
"At High Point University, we cannot hunker in the bunker," he said. "We cannot think inside the box or even outside the box. We must throw the box outside the window and be innovative dreamers and pragmatic doers.
"And as long as we adhere to the respected protocol of the academy, we will charge forth with better results. We will prepare our graduates to deal with the important and to dismiss the distracting, to recognize that life is about energy management and not time management, to learn that connecting with people is better than communicating with them, and that community service is a responsibility, not a choice."
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