THE INVESTITURE OF PRESIDENT DANIEL W. PULLIN
President’s Address
(Excerpt, as prepared for delivery)
“Today’s celebration pays tribute to TCU’s remarkable legacy of leadership and our connected community. We have come so far in 150 years: from a small school opening its doors with 13 students to the top-tier, national university we are today. Both then and now, we hold tight to our commitment to innovation and the opportunity to prepare the leaders who are the ultimate instrument of our impact.
TCU’s national presence and this year of monumental achievements have been accomplished through years of dedication, vision and planning.
Today, we both honor and learn from those who came before us so mightily. Leaders who leveraged opportunities, persevered in tough times, and remained loyal and committed in all circumstances. We owe our predecessors a debt of gratitude for shaping TCU today.
In the coming weeks, a time capsule will be installed in the Brown-Lupton University Union to commemorate our milestone year – only to be opened during TCU’s bicentennial anniversary in 2073. I’ll be 97 years old, and I’ll do everything in my power to be there—and maybe even get there early to be first in line—to help open it and reflect on how far we have come.
Regardless, when the next generation opens it, they will be reminded of the TCU of “the now” – the year we made history across all areas:
We will remember a record year in fundraising, surpassing our $1 billion Lead On: A Campaign for TCU goal that squarely supports our people and programs;
We will remember the world-class faculty who achieved another record year of research and creative pursuits;
We will remember how the Anne Burnett Marion School of Medicine achieved full accreditation and graduated its very first class, already making an incredible impact on the healthcare industry in Fort Worth, our region and beyond;
We will remember the 2022-23 athletics season when TCU became the only school in the nation to reach the College Football Playoff, NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament and College World Series in the same academic year;
We will remember how our retention rate for first-year students reached a new high of 94.3 percent, placing us among the most elite universities, which is a reflection of our commitment to inclusion and sense of belonging;
And, we will remember that despite declining national trends, enrollment at TCU is strong with steady, strategic growth.
Future generations will look at 2023 and marvel at TCU’s greatness with full appreciation of what it took to get to this point.”
