Click for more information.
OXFORD, Miss. – Robert C. Khayat, University of Mississippi chancellor emeritus, will deliver the keynote address to the institution’s largest first-year class Tuesday (Aug. 25) during the annual fall convocation.
The event begins at 7 p.m. in Tad Smith Coliseum. Incoming freshmen and transfer students received a copy of Khayat’s best-selling memoir, “The Education of a Lifetime” (Nautilus, 2013), which was selected earlier this year as the 2015 Common Reading Experience. They were instructed to read the volume before the start of classes. The former administrator has agreed to autograph books upon request following his speech.
“I think students will identify with the author’s account of his first days as a freshman on an unfamiliar campus,” said Leslie Banahan, assistant vice chancellor for student affairs and a co-chair on the Common Reading selection committee.
Chosen from among five finalists, Khayat’s book tells the story of growing up in Moss Point during the days of segregation and recounts his days in college at Ole Miss and Yale University. He also tells stories about his experiences as the university’s 15th chancellor and how UM grew under his direction.
“Every new student has pangs of homesickness and uncertainty, and I think knowing that our former chancellor had those same experiences will be reassuring to members of the class of 2019,” Banahan said. “The UM Common Reading Experience is important to our campus as we are a community of readers. Reading is at the very core of education, and sharing one book with students, faculty, staff and alumni affords us the opportunity for rich, stimulating, insightful discussions. Hopefully, students will learn how to express their opinions and respectfully listen to others’ opinions, even when they disagree.
“Chancellor Emeritus Robert Khayat played a pivotal role in changing the University of Mississippi and changing the perception others had of the university. Reading ‘The Education of a Lifetime’ will expose students to Khayat’s leadership style, the challenges he faced and overcame during his career, his disappointments and the legacy he leaves for all of us.”
Khayat encouraged the entire university to always strive for excellence and to live up to its promise as a great American university, Acting Chancellor Morris Stocks said. Through his tireless work, the Phi Beta Kappa chapter, Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, Trent Lott Leadership Institute and Croft Institute for International Studies were established as irrefutable reminders of UM leadership.
“This university has once again attracted a record number of students, drawing young people from around the world to an institution that has become well known for the leaders it produces, academic excellence and an outstanding collegiate experience,” Stocks said.
“It wasn’t always so. When Robert Khayat became chancellor, the campus wasn’t the beautiful place it is today. In fact, there were many buildings in a serious state of disrepair, landscaping was an afterthought and we were not known for the scholarship that defines this university today. The national leadership we enjoy now is a story of the huge difference one person can make. We can only hope that his story will inspire every student to accomplish great things in their careers.”
Similar sentiments were expressed by Noel Wilkin, acting provost.
“Among the many fine chancellors this university has had, Robert Khayat stands as one of the absolute best,” Wilkin said. “Those who hear him share his reflections during the fall convocation are sure to leave challenged and inspired.”
For more information on the Common Reading Experience, visit http://umreads.olemiss.edu/.
For more information on Khayat and his book, go to http://www.robertkhayat.com.