Inauguration of Elizabeth Garrett set for Friday, Sept. 18

Elizabeth Garrett attends Charter Day ceremonies
Jason Koski/University Photography
President-elect Elizabeth Garrett attends Charter Day, April 27.

The inauguration of Cornell’s 13th president, Elizabeth Garrett, is set for Friday, Sept. 18, the Inauguration Steering Committee has announced.

The installation ceremony will take place on the Arts Quad at 10 a.m., followed by a communitywide picnic on the Ag Quad at noon. In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held in Barton Hall.

Later that afternoon, Garrett will moderate an academic panel on “Inequality and Democracy” in Bailey Hall with Professors Robert Frank, Suzanne Mettler, Nick Salvatore, Gerald Torres and Wendy Wolford.

“Our overarching goal for the inauguration is to honor Cornell’s history and heritage, and to chart a vision of its future under the leadership of our president-elect,” said Joel Malina, vice president for university relations and co-chair of the Inauguration Steering Committee.

The Cornell and local communities are invited to attend the festivities, which will serve as a prelude to Homecoming Weekend.

“This is a historic inauguration, and along with a time to celebrate the first female president of Cornell, a panel of distinguished faculty will address topics that go to the heart of President-elect Garrett’s academic interests,” said committee co-chair Gretchen Ritter ’83, the Harold Tanner Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “We look forward to developing an enriching and thought-provoking event.”

An event for New York City-based faculty, staff and students celebrating Garrett’s inauguration is planned for Monday, Sept. 21, at Weill Cornell Medical College’s Belfer Research Building.

The members of the Inauguration Steering Committee are:

  • Juliana Batista ’16, incoming Student Assembly president;
  • Joseph Burns, professor and dean of the university faculty;
  • Margaret Gallo, senior director, Office of Alumni Affairs;
  • Kent Kleinman, dean of the College of Architecture, Art and Planning;
  • Bruce Levitt, professor of performing and media arts;
  • Connie Mabry, commencement director, Office of the President;
  • Jeffrey McCarthy, associate vice president for alumni affairs and development;
  • Mary Opperman, vice president for human resources and safety services;
  • Nick Salvatore, professor of industrial and labor relations and of American studies;
  • Betsy Shrier, associate vice president for human resources and safety services;
  • Tracy Vosburgh, associate vice president for university communications; and
  • Catherine Wong, acting president of the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly.

Additional details and schedule information will be made available in the coming months.

Media Contact

Joe Schwartz