David J. Schmidly will be officially installed as the University of New Mexico’s 20th president during a ceremony Sunday, Oct. 7, at 2:30 p.m. in Popejoy Hall. The public is invited to the ceremony and the reception that follows at University House. Reserved seating tickets will be available at UNM ticket offices Sept. 17.
The ceremony will include a variety of music, an academic procession and the formal installation with participation by the UNM Board of Regents, special guests, students, faculty, staff and alumni organizations. UNM’s tradition of installing or investing presidents dates back to 1912.
The UNM president’s inauguration goes beyond the installation ceremony. A weeklong series of events will showcase UNM’s contributions in the areas of community service, sustainable environments, health policy, research and innovation, athletics, arts and culture. The theme is “Connect,” which illustrates President Schmidly’s commitment to build and enhance connections between the University and communities.
Activities kick off on Friday, Sept. 28, in the Student Union Building ballrooms with the symposia “40 Years of Community Activism: 1967-2007, Civil Rights Reform, Then and Now.” Henry Cisneros, current chairman of CityView Housing and former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, will deliver the inaugural address “The 1967 Cabinet Committee Hearings on Mexican American Affairs & Civil Rights Reform: 40 Years Later.”
Other symposia (locations/times to be announced) include:
· Monday, Oct. 1
Sustainable Environment: Connecting Cultures and Nature in the 21st Century
· Tuesday, Oct. 2
Educating for Innovation
· Wednesday, Oct. 3
Connecting the Arts, Humanities and the Social Conscience
· Thursday, Oct. 4
Creating Health Policy to Connect and Improve Community Health
· Friday, Oct. 5
Connecting Athletics & Academics
Campus-wide receptions for faculty, staff and students will be held throughout the week: on main campus Wednesday, Oct. 3, from 3 to 5 p.m. at University House; and at the Health Sciences Center Thursday, Oct. 4, from 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. on Domenici Plaza.
A retiree reception will be held Thursday, Oct. 4, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the Science and Technology Park Rotunda.
On Saturday, Oct. 6 ~ 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
UNM will host “Explore UNM,” a campus-wide open house for prospective and current students and their families. Schools, colleges, departments and disciplines will showcase their facilities and programs.
Hands-on activities, demonstrations, student research, performance, exhibitions, lectures and workshops for parents and students are among activities planned.
For more information, and to participate or volunteer, visit the inauguration Web site, President Schmidly's Inauguration.