College president is officially installed

New Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College president Stephanie Hammitt had her day in the spotlight as local and statewide dignitaries, college staff and students, friends and family filled the college amphitheater Tuesday to see her honored as the fourth and first woman president of the 33-year-old institution.

More than one person - including Minnesota Commissioner of Higher Education Dennis Olson and former FDLTCC president Larry Anderson - declared Hammitt the "perfect" person to lead the nation's only combined tribal and community college.

In a ceremony that paid homage to the college's Native American roots and philosophies, Anderson passed an eagle staff to Hammitt after she added her own feather to the other feathers attached by previous presidents.

Anderson spoke of Hammitt's "integrity, intelligence and good heart," as how those traits are what it takes to lead the college.

"I have no doubt she will serve honorably and for a long time," he said.

Hammitt served as interim president for 18 months before being appointed president in November 2019. Tuesday's ceremony was a chance for people to celebrate that appointment, and bring Hammitt into the spotlight, a place she doesn't seek for herself, she and others admitted.

But she rose to the occasion. Addressing the crowd, Hammitt said becoming president was "humbling, gratifying and possibly one of the longest interviews ever," getting a huge laugh from the crowd.

She talked about walking in two worlds, the same worlds that the college straddles: community and tribal.

"That is what we do as our work is performed here," she said. "It is even evident in our facility. We have our cultural values written in Ojibwe and English on the hallway floors, to remind us how to go about our daily work. ... Traditional always mixes with nontraditional here and I wouldn't have it any other way."

Hammitt acknowledged that it isn't a job she set her sights on - but looking back, her cumulative experiences and education make her an excellent fit.

"Some may call the path to have me here before you a bit unconventional," she said. "That is what works best for Fond du Lac. Many of us never aspired to be a college administrator. Instead we are accountants, counselors, linguists and instructors. But I think that's what makes us good, and strong."

Fond du Lac Tribal Chair Kevin Dupuis told the crowd he tried to get Hammitt to come back and work for the Band again, but she said no.

"I think she's where the Creator wanted her," he said.

Hammitt wondered aloud whether her late father - former Fond du Lac Band Chairman Pete Defoe - ever thought his daughter might someday lead the college.

"I can't help but think that more than 30 years ago, when my father served with other band members and representatives from the state on the task force that help decide the need for Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, if ever in his wildest dreams, he thought I would be here," an emotional Hammitt said. "I only wish my parents could be here now."

Hammitt acknowledged there are challenges at the college, but said those and other future issues will be solved by working together.

She told a story that she heard recently about the college nickname, the Thunder.

"Thunder, never travels alone, there's always something swirling with him: rain, lightning, wind, And it is loud. Thunder has something to say. That is so true here. We cannot work in isolation, we must work together to accomplish our goals. We may not always be talking, but when we do we have something to say. I would not or could not do this job at any other place. I believe in the power of what we have here. We fight, we argue, we disagree, we joke, we tease. And in the end, we have each others' back and we always work to the best interest of our students."