FORT VALLEY, USA - Amid tears and cheers, Fort Valley State University staff and students formally welcomed their new school president, Kofi Lomotey.

Lomotey, who took over as FVSU president in October, was officially inaugurated by University System of Georgia Chancellor Thomas Meredith during a two-hour ceremony Friday morning. The event highlighted a weekend-long celebration for the university's seventh president.

"I'm honored to stand here before you as the president of Fort Valley State University," Lomotey said in his inaugural speech. "This is the ideal campus to lead."

Since arriving last fall, Lomotey has brought sweeping changes to FVSU, including the new African World Studies Institute, designed to provide students the opportunity to learn more about African cultures.

"For students, the institute will offer them internships to study abroad," Lomotey said. "We want to broaden their world view and understand the world we share so they can learn how to use their gifts with others."

The university is planning a student trip to Ghana this summer.

Lomotey listened as local and state leaders joined students in welcoming him to the area. FVSU student Halicia Lowman told a cheering crowd that she was one of many students who have embraced Lomotey as the new president.

"We have welcomed your open-door policy and the positive concern you have shown to the students," Lowman said. "We feel like the voice of the student body is finally being heard."

Lomotey became emotional at the beginning of his speech, as he expressed his gratitude to his family, friends and supporters.

Before coming to FVSU, Lomotey was the senior vice president and provost at Medgar Evers College of the City University of New York. He also has worked at Louisiana State University at Baton Rouge and the State University of New York in Buffalo.

Also on Friday, Lomotey and FVSU alumni Alma Haywood Bass unveiled the revamped clock in Founder's Hall. The clock is part of the university emblem and is on every piece of literature promoting the school.

Bass donated more than $20,000 to the school to preserve and restore the clock, which hasn't worked in more than 15 years. The donation was made in honor of Bass' sister, Lyda Haywood Hannon, who died in 2000.

"This is the day that the Lord has made possible," said Bass, who graduated from FVSU in 1945. "This is something my sister wanted and I wanted, too. Once she died, I guess I had to take a breather and wait a while.

"But when the new president contacted me about fixing the clock, I had to think about it. You know you have to think about something like that. But then I had to go along with it."

Lomotey said the broken clock was one of the first things he noticed when he visited the campus last fall. He said it was a symbol that needed to be fixed.

"Before today, this clock was only correct twice a day," Lomotey said. "We wanted it fixed so it would be correct all day, every day."