The College of Wooster to celebrate inauguration of President Anne E. McCall
The College of Wooster will celebrate the inauguration of President Anne E. McCall, the 13th president of the College, on Oct. 28, 2023, at 10 a.m. in Gault Recreation Center of Scot Center (1267 Beall Avenue). As part of Inauguration Weekend, on Friday, Oct. 27, Celebrating Disruptions in the Liberal Arts, a series of academic panels will feature guest speakers from a variety of disciplines, bringing people together in a collection of discussions focused on critical topics facing liberal arts institutions today.
“Our students at The College of Wooster continue a tradition of unflinching intellectual and artistic inquiry, a history of risk-taking through detailed research, discovery, debate, correction, revision, and dissemination throughout their journey to become leaders of character and influence in their professional careers. As a community of Independent Minds, Working Together, we face challenges of this mission daily on many fronts—in the political arena, in the media, houses of worship, and beyond,” said President McCall. “These panels showcase scholars who are bravely raising their voices to push forward new scholarship in dialogue with others.”
The series includes three panels on Friday, including “Emergent Histories” at 10:15 a.m., “Edges of Reason” at 1 p.m., and “Unsettling Spaces” at 2:30 p.m. All panels take place in Gault Recital Hall of Scheide Music Center (525 E. University Street). Joining panelists from Wooster faculty in a wide array of departments including Africana Studies and Chemistry as well as alumni working in key areas of expanding knowledge are guests Deborah McGrady, a French professor and director of medieval studies at University of Virginia whose latest book project is a monograph on the uses and abuses of Joan of Arc from medieval to modern times and Peter deSouza, former director of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study in Shimla, India, who engages in issues of freedom of expression and democratic politics. Read more about all the speakers in the series here wooster.edu/inauguration/panels.
The Wooster Board of Trustees will welcome students, faculty, staff, and alumni as well as community and higher education leaders from around the country for the inauguration of President McCall on Saturday morning. The traditional ceremony will include a procession, led by The College of Wooster Pipe Band, of College Trustees, Alumni Board members, faculty, academic delegates from other institutions, and finally the ceremony’s speakers and President McCall.
Presided over by Sally Staley, chair of the College Board of Trustees, speakers for the ceremony include greetings from alumni by Angela Triplett ’06, president of the Alumni Board; from the community by Gabe Tudor, superintendent and CEO of Wooster City School District; and from the academy by Gilda Barabino, president of Franklin W. Olin College. The inaugural address from President McCall will highlight her vision for the future of the College.
The Reverend David A. Rice, trustee and pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Wooster, will give the invocation for the ceremony and Rabbi Joan S. Friedman, Lincoln Professor of Religion, professor and chair of history, will provide the benediction. A musical performance will feature the Wooster Chorus directed by Lisa Wong, Olive Williams Kettering Professor of Music. Others from the College participating in the ceremony include Jaylin Hudson ’24, president of Scot Council; Carly Jones, assistant director of the Academic Resource Center and secretary of the Staff Committee; and Jennifer Bowen, dean for curriculum and academic engagement. Read more about the speakers for the event and watch the livestream of the ceremony at wooster.edu/inauguration.
Guests for the inauguration are welcome to attend a celebratory luncheon following the ceremony in the dining hall in Lowry Center. In addition to the panels and inauguration ceremony, a “Celebration of the Arts” program will take place on Friday, Oct. 27, at 4:30 p.m. at McGaw Chapel (340 E. University Street). Other programming and athletic events are also scheduled as part of Black & Gold Weekend. A full list of inauguration events is included at wooster.edu/inauguration.
Posted in News, President McCall on October 18, 2023.
