By Hazel Scott/ASU
As Alabama State University welcomed students back for a new academic year, ASU President, Dr. Quinton T. Ross, Jr., challenged the Hornet Nation to recognize both the strength of the institution they are part of and the responsibility they share in shaping its future.
Opening the University’s Fall Convocation on Thursday, September 17, 2026, in the Joe L. Reed Dunn-Oliver Acadome, Dr. Ross told students, faculty and staff that Alabama State is entering an important chapter of growth and opportunity.
“The State of this University is strong. The State of this University is growing. The State of this University is full of promise. And the future of this University is in our hands,” Dr. Ross declared.
At the center of his message was a phrase that has become closely connected to the identity and aspirations of Alabama State University:
“Greatness lives here.”
Greatness, Ross stressed is the roadmap:
G — Give Your Best
R — Rise Above
E — Expect Greatness
A — Act With Purpose
T — Take Action
N — Never Give Up
E — Encourage Others
S — Serve Others
S — Stand Strong
Dr. Ross stressed that the words represent far more than a campus slogan. They reflect the University’s history, its people and the expectations that come with being part of the Hornet Nation.
Greatness Has a Legacy
Dr. Ross reflected on the nine formerly enslaved men who helped establish the institution and emphasized that they looked beyond their own circumstances to create opportunities for generations they would never meet.
“They had every reason to focus only on what they had endured. But they chose to focus on what could be,” Dr. Ross explained. “They refused to allow their circumstances to define their future, or the future of generations yet unborn.”
For Dr. Ross, that history establishes an expectation for the present generation.
“Greatness comes from sacrifice. Greatness comes from endurance. Greatness comes from courage. And greatness comes from within,” he said.
Greatness Starts With You
Turning directly to students, Dr. Ross encouraged them to think beyond graduation and consider the larger purpose of their education.
“Do not simply ask yourself, ‘What do I need to do to graduate?’ Ask yourself, ‘What do I want to build? What problem do I want to solve? What difference do I want to make?’” Dr. Ross urged.
He explained that an Alabama State University education should prepare students not only to enter the world, but to influence what comes next.
“Our responsibility is not simply to prepare students for the world as it is. It is to prepare them to shape the world as it will be,” Dr. Ross said.
Rise Above
Dr. Ross warned students that the path to success will not always be easy.
Students will experience difficult courses, disappointing grades, rejection and moments of self-doubt, he noted. But he urged them not to allow temporary setbacks to become permanent definitions.
“Don’t allow a difficult moment to become a definition of who you are,” Dr. Ross emphasized.
He encouraged students to rise above fear, doubt and negativity, drawing again on the example of Alabama State University’s founders.
“They could have looked at their circumstances and said, ‘This is impossible.’ Instead, they said, ‘We will build something,’” he explained.
That same spirit, Dr. Ross said, must continue to define Alabama State University.
Expect Greatness
Dr. Ross challenged students to raise their expectations for themselves and their futures.
“Expect that you can learn. Expect that you can grow. Expect that you can overcome. Expect that you can graduate. Expect that you can lead. Expect that you can make a difference.”
He connected those expectations to the University's faculty, scholars and academic environment, emphasizing that students are surrounded by people prepared to help them discover and develop their potential.
Act With Purpose. Take Action.
For Dr. Ross, however, expectation must be followed by action.
“Don’t simply go through college. Go through college with intention,” he told students.
He told students that “dreams are important. Vision is important. Goals are important. But eventually, you have to move,” Dr. Ross stressed. “You don’t have to see the entire path. You just have to be willing to take the next step.”
Expanding Opportunity, Building the Future
Dr. Ross highlighted the University's efforts to expand its academic portfolio and create new pathways for students.
“These programs represent more than additions to a course catalog,” Dr. Ross explained. “They represent our vision for where Alabama State University is going.”
He described the University's broader transformation—including academic growth, athletics, the arts, research and campus development—as part of a larger effort to expand opportunity for students.
“We are creating new pathways for our students to enter emerging fields, pursue advanced degrees and compete in an ever-changing workforce,” he said.
Greatness Is How We Treat Others
Dr. Ross also emphasized that greatness should be measured not only by individual achievement, but by how members of Hornet Nation treat one another.
He encouraged students to recognize when a classmate, roommate or friend may be struggling and to become the person who offers encouragement.
“You may be the person who reminds them: ‘They belong here.’ ‘You can do this.’ ‘Don’t give up,’” Dr. Ross said.
Ross encouraged students to learn how to serve and to remember those who helped them along the way.
“And when you become successful, don’t forget where you came from,” Dr. Ross reminded them. “Lift as you climb.”
Your Chapter Matters
As he looked toward the future, Dr. Ross returned to the idea of legacy.
“You have chosen a University filled with history, tradition and a legacy that will outlive all of us. And now, it is your turn to add your chapter.”
Dr. Ross challenged every member of the University community to leave a meaningful mark.
“When you leave Alabama State University, make sure this University is better because you were here,” he said.
That charge captures the larger message of the convocation: Alabama State University's legacy is not simply something to admire. It is a legacy to carry forward.
Greatness Lives Here
Dr. Ross concluded by bringing the University's history, present momentum and future aspirations together under one central idea.
“We are not simply preparing you to leave Alabama State University. We are preparing you to carry Alabama State University with you,” he said.
Carry the legacy.
Carry the lessons.
Carry the relationships.
Carry the responsibility.
And carry the greatness.
“Greatness lives in our classrooms. Greatness lives in our laboratories. Greatness lives on our stages. Greatness lives on our athletic fields. Greatness lives in our faculty and staff. Greatness lives in our alumni.”
And, ultimately, Dr. Ross reminded the Hornet Nation, greatness lives in the people who choose to carry Alabama State University forward.
To view Dr. Quinton T. Ross, Jr.’s complete Fall Convocation speech, go to: YouTube/BamaState1867