Departing Valdosta State University President Dr. William McKinney, right, says goodbye to Joyce Aigen at a farewell reception held at VSU’s University Center’s Executive Dining Room Tuesday.

VALDOSTA — Valdosta State University held a farewell reception Tuesday for departing VSU President Dr. William McKinney and VSU First Lady Dr. Dacia Charlesworth in the University Center’s Executive Dining Room.

VSU faculty and staff lined up to give McKinney and Charlesworth an official goodbye. The line scarcely died.

Both McKinney and Charlesworth were fully occupied giving out hugs

and sharing memories during the ceremony.

Reception attendants had their chance to eat their fill, feasting on cheese platters, fruit platters, crackers, black bean hummus, hot trays of sweet and sour meatballs or macaroni and cheese balls.

McKinney became VSU’s president in 2012 and announced that he would resign April this year.

McKinney and Charlesworth are moving to Indiana where they have both accepted positions at Indiana University, according to a Facebook post by Charlesworth.

Tuesday was McKinney’s last day as VSU president.

Dr. Cecil Staton officially became VSU’s interim president Wednesday. He is expected to arrive next week for work on campus, according to the university.