First Posted: 9/2/2014

David L. Coppola, Ph.D. was officially inaugurated as the 10th president and 19th leader of Keystone College on Thurs., Aug. 28 on the College Green, La Plume.

More than 1,000 guests from the local community, including students, faculty, staff, members of the board of trustees, alumni and representatives from colleges and universities throughout the nation gathered on the lawn for the installation ceremony.

The theme for the event was “Carrying Our Legacy of Excellence Forward.”

Coppola came to the college with more than 25 years of experience in secondary and post-secondary education on June 1, 2013 and succeeded now President Emeritus Dr. Edward G. Boehm, Jr., who served from 1995 to 2013.

Following the inauguration ceremony, Coppola commented on his first year at Keystone. “Half of the class last year was the first in their family to go to college, so I feel we are making a difference, not only for the students, but their families and for the future,” he said.

“Among the things I will try to bring are the perspectives from other universities I have worked at but I’m delighted by the research and creativity that happens here – original research by students. I thought I was going to bring that, but it’s already here. Keystone is a place steeped in tradition and wonderful commitments. People stay here. They continue on their journeys and get advanced degrees.”

He also noted the board of trustees has approved a strategic plan to gradually and incrementally enlarge the college’s circle of inclusion to approximately 2,000 students over the next 10 years.