By Loretta Fulton

Dr. Lynne Murray will be inaugurated as McMurry University’s 11th president at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 26, in Radford Auditorium.

Theme for the inauguration and a reception to follow will be “Rising With Purpose.” The reception will immediately follow the inauguration in Garrison United Methodist Campus Center. The two events will highlight a week of activities tied to the inauguration that will begin Monday, Sept. 22. The McMurry University Board of Trustees unanimously elected Murray in September 2024, following a nationwide search. She officially began her tenure on Jan. 10, 2025. Murray was president of Baker University in Kansas when she was hired as president of McMurry. She holds degrees from St. Mary’s College of Maryland, Johns Hopkins University, and Gallaudet University.

Dr. Lynne Murray

“It is an extraordinary honor to serve McMurry University,” Murray said. “This community is truly Rising With Purpose, transforming lives and strengthening communities with passion and promise. McMurry has always been more than a university; it is a partner to Abilene and West Texas.”

McMurry is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The university’s Office of Religious and Spiritual Life will play an important role in the weeklong celebration. It will host an inauguration chapel service at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23, in the Mabee Room of the campus center. 

Guest preacher will be the Rev. Stacey Piyakhun, Director of Multiplication for the Horizon Texas Conference of the Untied Methodist Church.  Piyakhun joined McMurry students in a spiritual pilgrimage to Taize, France, this past summer. She has been an integral partner in strengthening the relationship between McMurry University and the Horizon Texas Conference, said Ricky Harrison, University Chaplain and Director of Religious Life. The Chapel service will also include a special blessing of President Murray by the student body.

On Friday morning, the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life will host the Inaugural prayer breakfast. 

“This will be a gathering of clergy and lay leaders from areas churches and across the state of Texas,” Harrison said. “Bishop Ruben Saenz, Jr. of the Horizon Texas Conference will give the inaugural homily.”

The gathered church leaders will participate in a Liturgy of Blessing for Murray. About 20 student leaders from Religious & Spiritual Life, McMurry Student Government, and McMurry Greek Life will be participating as hosts at the prayer breakfast and leading portions of the service.

Bishop Saenz will also participate in the inauguration, presenting Murray with the Presidential Signs of Office along with the faculty marshall and chair of the board of trustees.

The week of celebrations will conclude Saturday, Sept. 27, at McMurry’s home football game against Howard Payne University, where Murray will be recognized with a pregame ceremony and coin toss at 1:30 p.m. in Wilford Moore Stadium.

Loretta Fulton is creator and editor of Spirit of Abilene