The Inauguration of Dr. William N. Ellis as the 19th President of Howard Payne University will be held on Friday, April 16. The public is invited to participate in this historic day in the life of HPU.

To begin the inaugural activities, a Community Worship Service will be held at 8:30 a.m. in Grace Chapel in the Paul and Jane Meyer Faith and Life Leadership Center. At 10:30 a.m. in Mims Auditorium, faculty from HPU’s Department of Music will present the Pre-Inaugural Concert. The Inaugural Convocation ceremony will begin at 11:00 a.m., also in Mims Auditorium. The Investiture will be performed by Mr. Brad Helbert, chairman of HPU’s Board of Trustees, and Dr. Don Newbury, university chancellor.

Dr. Ellis was named as the institution’s 19th president on July 28, 2009, by HPU’s Board of Trustees. He had served as provost and chief academic officer at Hardin-Simmons University since 2001. Dr. Ellis graduated Summa Cum Laude from Hardin-Simmons University with the Bachelor of Arts degree in English and history. Additionally, he earned the Master of Arts degree in modern American literature from Texas Tech University and the Doctor of Philosophy degree in American Romanticism from the University of Colorado, Boulder.  He has also pursued post-graduate study at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

His wife, Diana, holds the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in vocal performance from the University of North Texas and has been a professor of voice and opera for 18 years.

The Ellises have two children: Emily, 22, and Brett, 20.