Jerald Jones Woolfolk was introduced Friday afternoon as Lincoln University's next president - 3 weeks after the Board of Curators announced her selection.
In introducing Woolfolk, Curators Board President Marvin Teer noted: "The beginning of every journey starts with one foot in front of the other in the direction we take. But the most important part of every journey is, there's always got to be somebody to lead the way."
In brief remarks after getting a standing ovation, Woolfolk said: "I'm more excited than you are. I am so excited and honored that you have selected me to become your 20th president and to lead this great institution into another 152 years."
She said the people she's met - both on this weekend's visit and during her interview day at the end of February - "excite me because they have great passion for this institution. I know that Lincoln is going to be just fine, because Lincoln has you - and now you've got me."
Woolfolk is confident people "will work hard to do the things that Lincoln needs us to do, because it's all about Lincoln - it's not about us as individuals."
Woolfolk said one national publication, which she didn't identify, had written after her selection last month that "Jerald Woolfolk has a tall order and they talked about some of the issues that were going on at Lincoln.
"And I said, 'They must not know the people that I've known, and they certainly don't know me' - because whatever the (work) is, we are certainly going to take care of that and restore Lincoln to the great institution that it has always been!"
In response to a question, she added she wants to help make Lincoln "first-in-class (and) that this will be the 21st century HBCU (historically black college and university)."
Then she gave current Interim President Mike Middleton credit for the phrase.
Woolfolk added: "We want to make this THE great institution where people want to come.
"And people want to come where they are going to be successful, and where faculty and staff and students help each other, and where administrators helps students and provide them with the skills they need in order to stay here, be retained, graduate and get jobs where they can take care of their families."
She's looking "forward to the journey ahead (and) knocking out those challenges that we have, (They) are not insurmountable."
Woolfolk is wrapping up her work as vice president for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at the State University of New York in Oswego.
She grew up in the Mississippi River Delta Region of west-central Mississippi, and earned her bachelor's and doctorate degrees at Jackson State University, an HBCU in the Mississippi capital.
Woolfolk earned her master's degree from Iowa State University, Ames.
She's worked and taught at HBCUs and predominately white institutions, she noted, saying she brings "something from every institution" to her new post as Lincoln's chief executive.
"You're getting the best of me," she said, "because I've made most of my mistakes already."
During the question-and-answer session, Woolfolk noted she officially starts as president on June 1, but "I've been working ever since they told me I would become the president."
She expects to move to Jefferson City in about a month.
And there are things about Lincoln she still needs to learn before announcing new programs or changes, Woolfolk said, promising to work with others to make decisions about LU's future.
She supports partnerships with businesses and with community organizations.
She said LU likely needs to boost its online presence and course offerings, because "in this day and age, you have to have an online presence."
And, she said, "It's important to understand the history of this institution (that) has survived for 152 years. So, something good has gone on here, and we're not starting over."
When asked what it's like to be Lincoln's 20th president - and only the third woman to hold the job - Woolfolk responded: "Yippee! Isn't that awesome?"