"Congratulations, President Elkins, on your inauguration! As chair and program director of the physician assistant studies program and the parent of two undergraduate Mercer students, I am proud to be part of the Mercer community during this important moment in the University’s history. Wishing you all the best as you lead Mercer into this next chapter."

"Congratulations, President Elkins! Your many years of service to Mercer and your heart for students are an encouragement to all of us. Please know that faculty across the University are cheering you on and are eager to support your vision. Wishing you wisdom, strength and joy in the work ahead!"

"Congratulations to President Elkins! I look forward to seeing the bright future of Mercer under your leadership."

"Big congratulations to you, President Elkins! 🎉 I am so excited to see all that you will accomplish and look forward to many years of your leadership support, and continued promotion of the University. Wishing you tremendous success in this new role!"

"Congratulations on your inauguration, President Elkins! As a faculty member in Mercer’s physician assistant program, I am proud to be part of a community committed to preparing students to lead and serve others. I look forward to Mercer’s continued growth under your leadership and wish you every success as you begin this exciting chapter."

"Congratulations, President! I am so looking forward to your leadership, innovation and compassion as you take on this new role. I was truly inspired by you at New Faculty Orientation, and I hope to bring the same dedication and pride to Mercer that you so clearly embody. Wishing you all the best as you begin this exciting new chapter!"

"Penny, I'm so sad that Nathan and I will have to miss this special day, but we will be out of town on a vacation planned months ago. We are so excited for all your accomplishments thus far and know that Mercer is fortunate to have you serve as president and especially proud to have you as the first female to take the position. I also cannot tell you enough how much we appreciate your kind words at my mom's celebration of life service. My dad always thought so much of you, and I'm sure he would be confident in you!"

"Congratulations President Elkins! I'm so thrilled to have joined Mercer in January and to be under the leadership of such a dynamic, compassionate, insightful and hardworking leader as yourself. Thank you for leading Mercer boldly toward the future!"

"Congratulations, President Elkins, on your historic inauguration as Mercer University’s 19th president! As a proud Mercer graduate and now faculty member, it is especially meaningful to see a woman who shares such a deep love for Mercer leading the University, and I am so excited for all that is ahead for you and the Mercer community!"

"Congratulations! I love your loyalty to the Mercer institution and mission. I know you will continue the tradition of excellence at Mercer!!"

"Congratulations on your appointment as the new president of Mercer University. I was privileged to have been an Upward Bound student as well as a Mercer student on the Macon campus when President Rufus Harris ushered in a new era through integration of Mercer. I’m even more grateful to witness the elevation of Mercer University among the prestigious American universities who have opened the door to a woman holding the university’s highest office!"

"Congratulations, President Elkins, on your inauguration! We are confident that your leadership will continue to elevate Mercer, champion our mission, and shine a spotlight on the Orange and Black. Best wishes as you lead our university into its next chapter."

"Congratulations on this exciting and historic appointment! I have admired your enthusiasm and passion for Mercer for many years, and it is wonderful to see you step into this new role as the University’s first female president. Wishing you all the best as you lead Mercer into this next chapter!"

"Congratulations to President Elkins on this landmark occasion! Our Mercer community is so fortunate to have such a compassionate, inspiring, dynamic and supportive leader, and I look forward to seeing the amazing things she will no doubt accomplish during her presidential tenure."

"Congratulations, President Elkins! It has been a pleasure getting to know you and your husband, and I am excited for what's ahead for Mercer under your leadership and vision. Looking forward to celebrating with you at Homecoming, Penny!"

"Congratulations, President Elkins! Watching you lead with such genuine care for our students has been inspiring. You have a gift for making everyone feel like an important part of the Mercer family, and I am so grateful to serve alongside you. Looking forward to following your vision and leadership for many, many years to come!"

"Dr. Elkins! I’m so, so proud of you. This position is so well deserved for someone so remarkable. I’m grateful to have served under you, and I know you are going to soar as you propel Mercer forward into the future. All my love and God’s blessings to you." ❤️

"Congratulations, Dr. Elkins! Your proven leadership, your creative vision, your tenacious commitment to do the things that matter and your passion for the Mercer soul inspire our devoted and eager support. This is your time and your place in our story. We stand with you to celebrate this historic moment. Go Bears!"

"Congratulations President Elkins! I’m grateful to you for taking on the leadership of this respected institution, and I’m excited to see all that you will bring to Mercer in this new chapter. Your leadership, vision and commitment to our mission will undoubtedly make a meaningful difference in the university community and beyond."

"Thank you, President Elkins, for all you do for Mercer and the students we serve. It’s an honor to work alongside you as you lead us into this exciting new chapter, and we can’t wait to see what Mercer accomplishes under your leadership! Congratulations!"

"The Division of Student Affairs is excited and pleased to celebrate this historical achievement and to begin work on the next chapter of this institution's great history. In life we often ask if our leaders are worth following. After 20-plus years of working side-by-side with Dr. Penny Elkins, I can unequivocally assert "yes" to this question, and I can't wait to see what the future brings under her leadership. Go Bears."

"On behalf of Mercer's College of Professional Advancement, I offer sincere thanks to you, President Elkins, for your years of service to Mercer and support of our mission. We look forward to celebrating this momentous occasion with the entire Mercer community, inspired by confidence in your leadership and the great things that are to come."

"Congratulations, President Elkins! It's inspiring to see one of our own lead us into Mercer's next chapter. I look forward to seeing all that you will do to help us all "hold nothing back and learn to find ease in risk!" #GoBears #BearsTeach

"Congratulations, President Elkins! Your courage, poise and forward-looking leadership are matched only by your extraordinary love and passion for Mercer University. Wishing you tremendous success as you lead Mercer into an exciting next chapter!"

"Congratulations to President Elkins! Her enthusiasm, grace, and dedication to Mercer have prepared her well to advance the university’s vision and serve its students with distinction. Wishing her every success as she serves in the historic role of Mercer’s first female president and leads the university into an exciting new chapter!"

"Congratulations and our very best wishes for a long and very successful tenure. There are great things ahead under your leadership. We are honored to have you as our president."

"My heart is overwhelmed, the tears of joy I shed just knowing one of my most outstanding third grade teachers is the FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT of such a prestigious university. I will always be eternally grateful for your hard work and dedication to the students at Jessie Rice. I thank you for your loyal support of my administration. I pray for your continued success. May God bless you!" ✝️🙏🏾🌺🥰

"Congratulations on becoming President of Mercer University. I wish you every success as you lead this extraordinary institution into its next chapter and toward its third century of changing lives and serving others."

"Congratulations. Your presidency is historic and unprecedented. Mercer will continue to be a global leader under your administration. I hope to continue to develop a stronger relationship with you and the institution. Best wishes."

"Grateful to walk in this season with you leading at the helm. May gratitude mark your steps, through peaks and valleys, and may grace hold you through all. No one arrives all alone, so remember you have a great cloud of witnesses cheering you on."

"I’m excited for President Elkins and Mercer and look forward to the continued success of Mercer under her leadership!"

"I'm so proud to have worked with President Elkins for many years and so very pleased for her to now be my president! All the best wishes to President Elkins and, as always, GO BEARS!"

"It gives me great pleasure to say the well-deserved "President Elkins." I treasure our quarter-of-a-century friendship and am excited to see what Mercer becomes under your leadership!"

"Congratulations! We are lucky to have you."

"Dear President Elkins, as a professor in the Pharmacy School, I personally want to express my appreciation for your inspiring leadership. Your leadership continues to inspire and motivate every single faculty member in our college, and I’m deeply grateful for your continuous support and encouragement."

"Congratulations, Dr. Elkins, on this historic occasion of being the first female president of Mercer University. I am grateful for the support, energy and encouragement that you are already providing to the students, faculty and staff of the McAfee School of Theology, and to the larger University. Mercer has a bright future under your leadership, and it will be an honor to be part of the next chapter."

Congratulations, President Elkins. You are already an inspiration to our Mercer team. I feel confident that with your administration we will tackle all challenges as we lift our entire family and community to new heights. I am proud to be an alumnus and employee. "As always, GO BEARS!"

"Congratulations, President Elkins! I am excited about the energy you bring to this position and to Mercer University. I look forward to seeing what everyone accomplishes under your leadership. Godspeed!"

"Wishing President Elkins every success as she is inaugurated as Mercer University’s 19th president. I’m grateful for her vision and commitment to making a meaningful impact, and proud to be part of this exciting new chapter."

"Congratulations to Dr. Penny Elkins for becoming President Elkins and the great number 19 of this fine institution! President Elkins is a woman for the students and cares about the direction of this University and the impact we will leave. I have never been more confident in the direction of a university and the support our students will receive. With a student-centered heart, President Elkins will create generations of Mercerians who hold Mercer close and the value of changing the world even closer.

Go Bears!"

"Congratulations, President Elkins, on this tremendous honor! May your tenure uplift, inspire and motivate our university community to become the best version of ourselves."

"Great appreciation is awarded to Mercer University's hardworking, inspirational and compassionate visionary, President Elkins. Through her strength, commitment and dedication to the sustainability of the University as well as the success of its students, we see a bright future for Mercerians on the horizon."

"Congratulations, President Elkins, on making history as the 19th president and first woman to lead Mercer University. I’m excited about your vision for the university and look forward to helping anyway I can. Go Bears!"

"Congratulations, President Elkins! I’m so excited to see the positive impact you’ll make at Mercer. Wishing you an amazing start to this new chapter!"

"Congratulations on this new chapter! We're glad to have you as our president." 🤗

"Dr. Elkins! It was YOU who recruited me to Mercer in 2008, and what a life changing experience! My career skyrocketed, and now I'm home again, teaching Bears. So many of my colleagues from Cohort III of the Ph.D. program are grateful for your support and kindness. Now, we are all over the moon with pride. Congratulations, Dr. Elkins. You were then and you are still the very BEST!"

"Wishing President Elkins all the best as she leads Mercer into this new chapter and continues building on our tradition of excellence. We are One Mercer, and proud to be part of what’s ahead!"

"Congratulations to President Elkins! I am thrilled to get to know her better. The first time she came to the Macon-Mercer Symphony as Mercer's president, she came over to me during intermission to ask questions and offer ideas. I thought it was so thoughtful and showed me her level of care for Mercer's programs and facilities. Looking forward to her leadership!"

"Congratulations, President Elkins! We are excited to see the vision, energy, and opportunities you bring to Mercer. Wishing you a rewarding journey as you lead our university and inspire the next generation of students and educators!"

"Thank you, President Elkins, for your genuine support of Mercer’s staff. Your appreciation for the work we do and your commitment to making staff members feel valued are deeply meaningful. Mercer is incredibly fortunate to have your thoughtful, inspiring leadership guiding us into the future."

"Congratulations, President Elkins! I love the energy you bring to Mercer, and I’m so excited about the future under your leadership. I look forward to this next chapter."

"Mercer University School of Law extends its warmest congratulations to Dr. Penny Elkins on her appointment as Mercer University’s new president."

"Congratulations on your well-deserved appointment as the first female president of Mercer University. I am so grateful for your kindness, innovative vision, and student-focused approach to leadership. The future is bright!"

"Congratulations to President Elkins on this historic moment in Mercer’s history! Thank you for your leadership and for all you do to shape the lives of Mercerians. We look forward to celebrating this special milestone with the Mercer community!"

"Congratulations, President Elkins! Your leadership and vision mark an exciting new chapter for Mercer. Wishing you great success as you lead Mercer forward and build upon the University’s strong foundation."

"Wishing President Elkins all the best as she leads our students, faculty, and staff into a bright, ambitious future, advancing education, research, and service to our communities."