WASHINGTON – On Monday, Howard University students, staff, and faculty got to relax and take deep breaths with President Ben Vinson III, Ph.D., days ahead of his formal inauguration as the University’s 18th president.

As part of a week-long series of inauguration events, the University held a yoga session on the Yard to introduce Vinson to more members of the Howard community. The event was held in partnership with FITDC, a city-wide health and fitness initiative led by the District of Columbia. At the event, a yoga instructor led attendees of the class through tree poses, high lunges, softly pressed everyone to sit a little deeper in the chair pose.

“I liked the part where we inhaled and looked high up into the sky,” said Jacqueline Young, a program manager in the Office of the Provost who has worked at the University for 24 years.

Young, who works in the Office of the Provost, said she looks forward to executing the vision that Vinson has begun to lay out to improve the University's future.

“He seems to be a great man,” Young said. “I like what he is saying about taking Howard University to ‘maximum strength.’ That’s exactly what we need. We are very strong in many areas, but maximizing it means we are aiming to be the very best at everything we are trying to accomplish – and being intentional about it.”

Finance seniors Joshua Bredwood and Brandon Langmia joined the yoga activities when Vinson approached them to join the group as they walked across the Yard.

“I like the enthusiasm,” Bredwood said. “He pointed me out and asked me to come over. I don’t know him that well, but I like the energy.”

Langmia said it was good to see the president on the Yard and getting a chance to chat with him.

“We’re young and we’re seniors now,” Langmia said. “We are going to be alumni soon. Seeing the president out and being engaged – you can’t get enough of that.”