Frances Degan Horowitz, a nationally recognized educator and president of the Graduate School and University Center at City University of New York(CUNY), will be the principal guest speaker at inauguration ceremonies

Sept. 18 for President Irvin D. Reid.

Also speaking will be Richard Lynde, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Montclair State University, where Reid was president before becoming the ninth president of Wayne State University last November.

Reid has known Horowitz, an expert in developmental psychology, for several years and has been impressed with her efforts to make higher education available to economically disadvantaged persons, including minorities and immigrants in urban settings.

"I feel very honored that Dr. Reid has asked me to speak at the inaugural event," Horowitz says. "I believe he is a very thoughtful, effective administrator who is committed to building a consensus and moving the institution forward."

She says her remarks at the inauguration likely will focus on the importance of higher education in an urban setting.

Lynde has been provost and vice president for academic affairs at Montclair State since 1987. He has been with the university for 28 years as a faculty member, department chairman, dean, provost, vice president and acting president.

He admires Reid for his accomplishments as chief administrative officer at the second largest university in New Jersey. "Irv Reid turned out to be just the right choice (as president) for Montclair," Lynde observes.

"With his background in marketing and psychology, he is a remarkable leader, and the university made great strides under him. I think virtually everyone at Montclair would say he left the university a better place than it was when he came."

He describes Reid as having "boundless energy and an endless supply of enthusiasm and optimism." He points out that WSU's new president is" unpredictable in a positive way -- able to visualize things that a more traditional administrator might overlook. And he is a person who clearly understands the great difference technology is going to make in the learning process."