The investiture of David L. Barnett, Ph.D., as the eleventh president of Brenau University took place on Thursday, August 22, 2024.

All current Brenau faculty, staff and students were invited to attend the investiture ceremony; faculty wore regalia and participated in the procession.

The investiture was livestreamed and the public was invited to attend a reception following the ceremony on Brenau’s front lawn.

Brenau President David L. Barnett, Ph.D. holds a folio and smile against a blurred background of trees

About the Investiture

Brenau University celebrated the investiture of President David L. Barnett, Ph.D., on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024, on Brenau’s historic campus in Gainesville, Georgia. Brenau’s Board of Trustees named Barnett as the university’s eleventh president in February. Barnett previously had served as interim president. 

An investiture is a ceremony in which the president of a college or university is conferred with the articles and symbols of office of the institution. Involving traditions and symbols that date back to the Middle Ages, an investiture is typically held within the new president’s first year of office. The event is an opportunity to celebrate the history of the university and its future; the new president’s speech presents a vision of the future of the institution.

I am confident that a A Thriving Future is attainable for Brenau, for our students, for our faculty and staff, and for our community because I believe in the good work we are capable of achieving,” Barnett said. “I believe with every fiber of my being that if we collectively dare to dream big, with a focus on meeting our communities’ needs through the investment of our time, talents, and treasures, A Thriving Future is on our horizon.

Brenau President David L. Barnett, Ph.D.

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About President Barnett

David L. Barnett, Ph.D.

President


dlbarnett@brenau.edu
+1-770-534-6110

A native of Georgia, Barnett earned a doctorate in educational leadership and organizational development and a Specialist in Education from the University of Louisville. He also earned a Master of Divinity from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Bachelor of Arts from Mercer University. He is also a member of the academic honor society Phi Kappa Phi and received many academic awards and honors during his educational pursuits.

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