Eric Aagesen

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The document is a transcript for the Paul D. Assaiante Inaugural Lecture. Key discussion points included the rare occurrence of an endowed chair being named after the first person to hold it, citing two prior examples at the institution. The focus was primarily on honoring Coach Paul Asante, the first holder of the endowed Paul Asante Professorship of Physical Education, highlighting his twenty-year tenure, numerous national championships, and coaching philosophy which emphasizes confronting fear and accepting failure as a crucial life lesson. The speaker also acknowledged the achievements of the men's squash team reaching the national finals for the 17th consecutive year and the women's team winning the national championship. Additionally, the speaker recognized the presidential tenure of Jimmy Jones and his wife Jan, and thanked various trustees and supporters present. A significant portion of the address focused on the contemporary cultural issue of students lacking ownership over their journeys due to over-parenting, leading to fragility when faced with difficulty, and stressed the importance of allowing young people to fail and develop resilience.

Extracted from official board minutes, strategic plans, and video transcripts.