Alumna installed as president of Brockport college

Heidi Macpherson addresses the audience during her installation as the seventh president of the College at Brockport. Photo courtesy of the College of Brockport

Reciting the installation poem was her undergraduate professor, St. Cloud State University Emeritus Steve Klepetar, who wrote “Invisible Wings” for the occasion.

Macpherson is the seventh president of the College at Brockport and its first female president. She began her role at Brockport in July 2015.

Macpherson has more than 20 years of experience in higher education as an author, professor and administrator. She previously served as provost at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Prior to that, Macpherson had served as professor of American and Canadian literature, dean and pro vice-chancellor at universities in the United Kingdom.

She earned a bachelors at St. Cloud State in English with a creative writing minor, graduating Summa Cum Laude. She earned her Ph.D. in American Literature from the University of Newcastle.

The alumna grew up in a family of teachers, but it was her experiences as an Honors student and studying abroad through the Alnwick program that helped solidify Macpherson’s career in English and higher education. She has become a strong advocate of education abroad throughout her career.

“It was the most transformative experience of my life,” she said of Alnwick. “I would encourage every student who can to travel abroad.”

Macpherson remembers every class she took with Klepetar.

St. Cloud State Emeritus Steve Klepetar spoke at the installation of former student Heidi Macpherson as president of the College at Brockport. Photo courtesy of Steve Klepetar

“Every single opportunity that I had with him in the classroom was of the highest quality,” she said. “… He was always engaging us in learning. He was just a really warm, caring and supportive professor.”

The two stay in touch through Facebook. She asked him for advice about recommendations for creative writing and publishing. She didn’t hesitate to invite him to be part of her installation by creating an inaugural poem.

Every installation is reflective of both the institution and the president, so Macpherson’s installation highlighted her love of poetry and creative writing and her passion for education abroad and undergraduate research.

The event was very moving, Klepetar said.

“I am very proud of all Heidi has accomplished and very honored to be invited to represent the academic community at her inauguration,” he said. “You can imagine how great it feels to have such a wonderful, successful former student tell me that I meant a lot to her life through my teaching and mentoring.

“Heidi would have succeeded no matter what, but how wonderful to hear that I had such a positive effect.”

Klepetar’s recitation at the installation was the first time Macpherson had heard the poem. Afterward she stood up and gave him a hug.

“I really think a state school like St. Cloud State or the College at Brockport, where I am now, offers students the best education opportunity because they’re affordable and you’ve got professors who are experienced and caring,” she said. “I can’t imagine a better place to get started in my career than at St. Cloud State University.”

Heidi Macpherson gives Steve Klepetar a hug following his reading of “Invisible Wings,” the poem he wrote for her installation. Photo courtesy of Steve Klepetar

Invisible Wings      

There’s a certain gleam in the eyes that speaks,
even at nineteen, of invisible wings, folded
calmly where roots of heart and mind conjoin,
a sweet strength: intelligence coupled with will
and energy, an openness to ideas and to places
far from  a small, well-loved place. She attends
with ear and eye, tasting words, making them
her own. Hail to the sudent who sees into the life
of things, the professor who leads with a laugh
and a kind hand! Hail to the dean who understands!
And when those glittering wings rustle, then open,
nurtured by family and love, toughened by study,
hard work, and the many joys of a busy life, she
sails across oceans bearing her burdens so lightly
they seem like many colored balls dancing in air,
managed only by the magic of her skillful hands.

—     Written and recited by St. Cloud State Emeritus Steve Klepetar at the installation of Heidi Macpherson as president of the College at Brockport