Gov. Matt Meyer shows the inaugural Oath of Office Certificate after he was sworn in as Delaware's 76th governor. The event marked the first time in the almost 134-year history of Delaware State University that it hosted a Governor's Inauguration Ceremony on the DSU campus. — *In this photo:* Gov. Matt Meyer shows the inaugural Oath of Office Certificate after he was sworn in as Delaware’s 76th governor. The event marked the first time in the almost 134-year history of Delaware State University that it hosted a Governor’s Inauguration Ceremony on the DSU campus.

On Campus

DSU hosts the Governor and Lt. Governor’s Inauguration Ceremony

Tuesday, January 21, 2025

Gov. Matthew S. Meyer was sworn in as the 76th Governor of Delaware in a Jan. 21 Inauguration that uncomfortable cold weather prompted the ceremony to be moved indoors to the comfy confines of the William B. DeLauder Education & Humanities Theatre at DSU.

For images from the Inauguration Ceremony, click on the below link:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/48216028@N03/albums/72177720323321091/

DSU President Tony Allen presided over the ceremony, which also featured the swearing in of Lt. Gov. Kyle Evans Gay. While it was the first-ever inauguration of a Delaware governor on the campus of Delaware State University in its almost 134-year history, Gov. Meyer said the distinction possibly went even beyond that. Delaware Poet Laureate, The Twin Poets -- Nanmdi Chukwuocha and Al Mills presented a uplifting and inspiring poem.

“This may be the first time in U.S. history that any governor has been sworn into office in a historically black college or university,” Gov. Meyer said at the beginning of his inauguration address. “Thank you to Dr. (Tony) Allen and the great leadership here at Delaware State University.”

Gov. Meyer said education, health care, housing, and business will be among his top priorities. He also noted the change in presidency in Washington, D.C., and stated his willingness to work with anyone – of any party – who is ready to advance the best interests of Delawareans.

“But I want to make this absolutely clear: if the president or his administration tries to take away your health care coverage, or further restrict your reproductive rights, or undermine our schools, or try to come into our communities to harass folks who came to our country, and our state, in search of a better life…, I will use every power you’ve vested in me as governor to protect our residents, our livelihoods, and our values.” Gov. Meyer said.

In Lt. Gov. Gay’s address, she made the following pledge to the people of Delaware.

“At the end of these four years, the Office of the Lieutenant Governor will be known as your true partner,” Lt. Gov. Gay said. “(I’ll be) a true partner to Gov. Matt Meyer, who, like me, believes that we need to have courage, to be dynamic leaders acting boldly to achieve a brighter future for generations to come.” With her husband Olin Gay holding a bible, Lt. Gov. Kyle Evans Gay takes the oath of office.

She added that she would be a true partner to the Delaware General Assembly and the various state agencies.

In his closing remarks, Dr. Tony Allen referred to Dr. Martin Luther King to characterize Delaware’s newly elected executive leadership. He noted that when Dr. King accepted the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, he said that he refused to “accept the ‘is-ness’ of a person’s present nature that makes him morally incapable of reaching up toward the ‘oughtness’ that forever confronts him.”

He then pointed toward the Gov. Meyer and Lt. Gov. Gay and said, “This is oughtness.”