Presidential Inauguration, March 19-21

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Inauguration/Homecoming 2010 weekend to include many public events

The public is invited to join the Stetson University community for the Inauguration of the university’s ninth president, Dr. Wendy B. Libby, during Homecoming 2010 weekend, March 18 to 21.

The formal installation of the new president will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 20, in the Edmunds Center, 143 E. Pennsylvania Ave. Beginning at 10:40 a.m., Stetson faculty members, administrators and trustees will join with delegates representing dozens of colleges and universities throughout the United States for a procession from Stetson’s main gates north on Woodland Boulevard to Pennsylvania Avenue. The section of Woodland Boulevard (U.S. 17-92) that runs through Stetson’s campus will be closed to automobile traffic briefly.

The public is also invited to the Mainstreet Block Party – An Inauguration Celebration from 7:30 to 11 p.m. Saturday, March 20, along West Indiana Avenue in downtown DeLand. Other public events during the weekend are listed below.

Libby became Stetson’s ninth president in July 2009. It is customary for college presidents to be inaugurated some months after they take the helm, and Libby requested that her inauguration be scheduled during Homecoming so that alumni could attend.

Libby has a broad career in higher education and private industry, most recently serving as president of Stephens College in Columbia, Mo., from 2003 to 2009. A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., she earned her doctorate in Educational Administration from the University of Connecticut. She has already embarked on a mission to build on Stetson’s long tradition of academic excellence and commitments to values and service and to unite Stetson’s four locations as “one university.”

“I’ve had the privilege of getting to know Dr. Wendy Libby over the past few months. Needless to say, I’ve been impressed with her in many ways. Wendy will be a dynamic and innovative leader for the university, and she will develop new, mutually beneficial partnerships with our community,” said DeLand Mayor Bob Apgar. “The city is excited to welcome alumni and friends to DeLand for her Inauguration and Homecoming. This will be a historic event as Stetson installs its first woman president, and I encourage everyone in our community to show their support for Wendy and Stetson by joining in the celebration.”

Four days of Inauguration and Homecoming 2010 activities are planned for alumni and the public, including reunions for seven class years back to the Class of 1955. Events that are open to the public include:

Friday, March 19:

• Art Exhibition, “Oscar Bluemner: Art and Identity Between the World Wars,” free, 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Friday, March 19, Hand Art Center, 139 E. Michigan Ave.
• Alumni and Faculty Author Book-Signing, free, books will be available for sale, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Friday, March 19, duPont-Ball Library, 134 E. Minnesota Ave.
• Men’s Hatter Baseball vs. Florida Gulf Coast University, preceded at 6:15 p.m. by announcement of the Homecoming Court, 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 19, Melching Field at Conrad Park, 555 S. Woodland Blvd. Tickets: $7 for general admission; $8 for chairback seating, www.gohatters.com.
• School of Music Inauguration Concert, free, 8 p.m. Friday, March 19, Lee Chapel in Elizabeth Hall, 421 N. Woodland Blvd.

Saturday, March 20:

• Run Around Stetson 5K, walk/run to raise money for Stetson alumni programs, 8 a.m. Saturday, March 20; register at 7:30 a.m. at the Edmunds Center, 143 E. Pennsylvania Ave. $10 to participate.
• Inauguration ceremony, free, 11 a.m. Saturday, March 20, Edmunds Center, 143 E. Pennsylvania Ave. Procession along Woodland Boulevard to begin at 10:40 a.m.
• Men’s Hatter Baseball vs. Florida Gulf Coast University, 1 p.m. Saturday, March 20, Melching Field at Conrad Park, 555 S. Woodland Blvd. Tickets: $7 for general admission; $8 for chairback seating, www.gohatters.com.
• Art Exhibition, “Oscar Bluemner: Art and Identity Between the World Wars,” free, 1-4 p.m. Saturday, March 20, Hand Art Center, 139 E. Michigan Ave.
• School of Music Showcase Concert, free, featuring performances by student chamber ensembles, 2-3:30 p.m. Saturday, March 20, Lee Chapel in Elizabeth Hall, 421 N. Woodland Blvd.
• Family Day and Homecoming Open House at the Gillespie Museum, free, 2-4 p.m. Saturday, March 20, Gillespie Museum, 234 E. Michigan Ave.
• Reptile Roundup, free, an open house featuring a biology showcase and activities centered around the Rinker Environmental Learning Center and adjacent community garden, 2-4 p.m. Saturday, March 20, Rinker Environmental Learning Center, 230 E. Michigan Ave.
• Men’s Hatter Baseball vs. Florida Gulf Coast University, 4:30 p.m. Saturday, March 20, Melching Field at Conrad Park, 555 S. Woodland Blvd. Tickets: $7 for general admission; $8 for chairback seating, www.gohatters.com.
• Mainstreet Block Party: An Inauguration Celebration, free, featuring live music by Motion City Soundtrack and Frontiers: The Journey Tribute Band, a Classic Car Show, children’s area, crowning of the Homecoming King and Queen, and trophy presentations to the winners of the Legacy Cup and Football Challenge, 7:30-11 p.m. on West Indiana Avenue in downtown DeLand.

Sunday, March 21:

• Chapel Service, free, an interdenominational service led by Stetson Chaplain Michael Fronk, featuring a moment of “Golden Silence” to honor recently deceased alumni, students, faculty and staff, 9 a.m. Sunday, March 21, Lee Chapel in Elizabeth Hall, 421 N. Woodland Blvd.
• Art Exhibition, “Oscar Bluemner: Art and Identity Between the World Wars,” free, 1-4 p.m. Sunday, March 21, Hand Art Center, 139 E. Michigan Ave.
• Lawson Lecture by Ignat Solzhenitsyn, “One Life to Live: Choice and Free Will in One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich,” free, 2 p.m. Sunday, March 21, Lee Chapel in Elizabeth Hall, 421 N. Woodland Blvd.
• Performance/Talk by Ignat Solzhenitsyn, on the subject of a Schubert sonata, free, 4:30 p.m. Sunday, March 21, Feasel Rehearsal Hall in Mary B. McMahan Hall, 417 N. Woodland Blvd.

Media planning to cover the Inauguration should contact the Stetson Office of Public Relations and Communications at 386-822-8920 to arrange for media credentials. Anyone needing more information about the activities may call the Office of Public Relations and Communications at 386-822-8920.

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Post date: Feb. 15, 2010

Media contact: Kate Bradshaw
[email protected] | 727-430-1580