Presidential Inauguration

Date(s): March 31, 2023 @ 10:00am - 1:30pm

Location: Fresno Main Campus

Event category:

University
Social

Presidential Inauguration Ceremony

Friday, March 31, 2023
10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Fresno Pacific University, Special Events Center, Main Campus

RSVP here for the ceremony and the picnic

RSVP

Your RSVP of your planned attendance or regret of being unable to attend helps us greatly plan and best prepare.

Livestream available for viewing here

University Picnic

11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Campus Green, Main Campus
A picnic lunch on the campus green will be hosted following the inauguration ceremony.

Fresno Pacific University, Main Campus
1717 S. Chestnut Avenue
Fresno, California

Read more about President Stephens, Ph.D., and his leadership style in the article from the latest issue of Pacific magazine.

Join in the Celebration!

You're invited to leave a note of congratulations, encouragement, prayer or a verse for President Stephens and First Lady, Beth Stephens. Your words, no matter the length will be appreciated! The posts will be collected and provided to President Stephens and Beth. Join in the celebration by adding your own post on our online board!

Add a Post

Parking

Permits will not be required to park in any parking lots on campus on the day of the inauguration ceremony. You are invited to park in any parking lot on campus, however, reserved handicapped parking in all lots will still be enforced. Please take a moment to review the campus map found here and note the ceremony location and nearby parking lots. The ceremony is being held in the Special Events Center, located off of Winery Avenue, with the closest parking lots being on the corner of Hamilton and Winery (Lots F and H).

Parking Lot E, located on Heaton Avenue, will be reserved parking for those participating in the academic processional.

Academic/Ceremony Processional

President Stephens invites delegates from institutions of higher education and current/emeriti members of Fresno Pacific Board of Trustees to participate in the ceremony’s processional. If you plan to participate in the academic processional, please be sure to indicate that when you RSVP.

Those participating in the academic processional are requested to wear and provide their own academic regalia and be in the lineup location on campus by 9:00 a.m. Parking Lot E, located on Heaton Avenue, will be reserved parking for those participating in the academic processional.

Additional details regarding the lineup for the procession, including location and parking details, can be found here.

Hotel Accommodations

Picadilly Inn, Fresno

Located near the Fresno/Yosemite International Airport and only 10 minutes from the main campus of Fresno Pacific. Mention Fresno Pacific to receive a 20% discount as a guest of FPU!

André Stephens, Ph.D.
14^th President of Fresno Pacific University

Dr. André Stephens has 30 years of experience in Christian higher education in California, most recently as vice president for student development at Biola University, a post to which he was appointed in 2016. Serving in this cabinet-level role, he led a team that provided authentic, meaningful learning experiences to foster the Christian character of students through areas such as spiritual development and chapel programs, athletics, new student orientation and community life, comprising the offices of Housing and Residence Life, Student Care, Global Student Programs and Development, Commuter Life, Campus Engagement, the Student Health Center, the Learning Center and Student Government.

Before moving into the vice presidency, Stephens was associate vice president of university admissions. A member of Biola’s enrollment management team since 1991, he started as an admissions counselor and was promoted into increasing roles of responsibility and leadership. During his tenure in admissions, Stephens was sponsored for participation in Harvard’s Institute for Educational Management. Under his leadership, Biola saw 12 consecutive years of enrollment growth.

Stephens completed his B.A. in Communication with a public relations emphasis from Biola, his M.A. in Speech Communication with an emphasis in intercultural/interpersonal communication from California State University at Fullerton and his Ph.D. in Education with an emphasis in higher education administration/student affairs from Claremont Graduate University.