Mr. Bill Mahones, Chairman of the Board of Regents for The Texas A&M University System (TAMUS), welcomed the students, staff, faculty and guests to the auspicious event. He commended Dr. LeGrande for the wealth of experience that she brings to PVAMU and the system and pledged his full support.
Dr. LeGrande's administration ushers in a renewed promise to improve student success and research innovation at the historically Black university.
LeGrande comes from humble beginnings and is a two-time HBCU graduate with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Savannah State University and a master’s degree from North Carolina A&T State University. She is also a member of Zeta Phi Beta, a historically Black sorority. She later earned the doctorate of education in higher education administration from Texas Tech University. After graudion, LeGrande returned to North Carolina A&T as a graduate recruiter. That springboarded her into a career focused on admissions and student success, taking her to Winston-Salem State University and the University of Houston-Downtown in rising positions; and later as the Vice President for Student Enrollment and Success at Virginia Commonwealth University, where she is credited for enhancing and growing the enrollment through student success and college accessibility initiatives.
Persons paying homage to Dr. LaGrande included Carlotta Picket, LeGrande's sister, Mr. Herbert R. Thomas, Chairman of the Staff Council, Dr. David Rembert, Chairman of the Faculty Senate, Mr. Mark Falls, President of the PVAMU National Alumni Association and Miss Gabrielle Orji, President of SGA. “She carries with her the hopes and aspirations of faculty, staff, administrators and the student body,” ssociation President Orji said. “I have no doubt that she will rise to the occasion for Prairie View.”
The speaker for the inuaguration was Dr. Brenda Allen, 14th President of Lincoln University - Pennsylvania and mentor of Dr. LeGrande. Dr. Allen shared her admiration and respect for Dr. LeGrande and encouraged the students, faculty, staff and alumni, board of regents and legislative persons to do the same. The PVAMU Singers/University Chorale made a rousing tribute of I'll Rise Up.
TAMUS Chancellor, John Sharp presented Dr. LaGrande with the presidential medallion and mace signifying her official installment. Sharp also stated that TAMUS was committed to assisting LeGrande with the necessary tools and funds to support her goals and objectives for the university. Some of the luminaries on hand were Texas State Representative Ronald Reynolds, stood in for U. S. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. He commended Dr. LeGrande on this auspicious and life-changing event; Texas Representative Stan Kitzman; Prairie View Mayor Ronald Leverett, who presented Dr. LeGrande the Key to the City, Cynthia Jackson Hammond, brought greetings on the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, advocacy for more than 1,900 colleges and universities. Mr. Bill Mahones made the formal investure of Dr. LeGrande.
In her address to the audience, LeGrande said she is inspired daily by the origins of the university, which was founded in 1876 as a designated college for Black students and opened in 1878 on the site of a plantation for enslaved people in Waller County. Decades later, as of fall 2022, Prairie View A&M was home to more than 7,100 full-time undergraduate students and 390 graduate students. "Any time the wind blows on this campus, I feel hands pushing me on my back, pushing us forward to face new challenges to ensure that Prairie View A&M University relevantly stands forever,” LeGrande said. “My vision for Prairie View A&M University is eminence. Prairie View will be a premier research-intensive public HBCU that serves as a national model for student success.” LeGrande on Friday hinted at some of her plans surrounding student success, although a 10-year strategic plan for the university is still in the works. She will launch a new student support model in the fall, called PV Cares, assigning every undergraduate student to an academic adviser, a financial counselor and a career coach, she said. Dr. LaGrande expressed her sincere thanks to her family, the TAMUS, students, faculty and staff and all the visiting guests from the academy and other organizations.
Preceding the formal inauguration was the special unveiling of the Toni Morrison Freedom Bench. LeGrande stated that the bench marks our significance and impactful history while also shining a bright light on the transformative power of this place."
Concluding the day of celebration was the elegant inaugural banquet held at Houston’s Post Oak Hilton Hotel. The audience was treated to the sound of great music from the PVAMU Jazz Band and PV Singers. On hand for special commendations to Dr. LeGrande were Terry Ellis, member R&B Soul Group Envogue; The REAL TV Host, Comedienne and Actress Loni Love and KUHT Host Eddie Robinson, all PVAMU alumni. President LeGrande's Inauguration in Pictures: