Suresh Garimella will be officially inaugurated as the University of Vermont’s 27th president at an installation ceremony to be held Thursday, Oct. 3, at 1:30 p.m. in Ira Allen Chapel.
Guests are asked to be seated in the chapel by 1 p.m.
Before beginning his UVM presidency on July 1, Garimella served in variety of leadership roles at Purdue University, most recently as executive vice president for research and partnerships. He was also the Goodson Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Purdue and has been an active researcher throughout his academic career.
In addition, he is an advisor to several national organizations, including as a member of the National Science Board, which establishes the policies of the National Science Foundation and advises Congress and the President on matters related to science and science education.
A number of prominent figures Garimella has worked with will speak about the president at the ceremony.
They include National Science Foundation director France A. Córdova; Carolyn Woo, Distinguished President’s Fellow for Global Development at Purdue and former president and CEO of Catholic Relief Services; Jayathi Murthy, Ronald and Valerie Sugar Dean of the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science; and Marianne Boruch, professor of English emerita at Purdue and a distinguished poet.
Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy, Vermont Governor Phil Scott and UVM board chair David Daigle will also make remarks, as will President Garimella.
“The formal investiture of Dr. Garimella as UVM’s new president is a special day for the university,” said UVM board chair David Daigle. “He possesses the intellect, vision, leadership skills, academic credentials and experience to be a highly successful president, and we are thrilled that his tenure is underway.”
Academic procession to precede ceremony
The installation ceremony will be preceded at 1 p.m. by an academic procession from University Place to the Ira Allen Chapel. The procession will include representatives from over 30 universities and colleges, members of the University of Vermont faculty and emeriti faculty, university governance leaders, members of the Board of Trustees and other invited guests.
Members of the university community are encouraged to view the procession by lining up along University Place.
The academic procession and installation ceremony will also be livestreamed at the following address: https://www.youtube.com/user/universityofvermont/live
Following the installation, there will be a reception on the University Green around the fountain that all members of the university and surrounding community are invited to attend. In the event of inclement weather, the reception will be held in the atrium in Ifshin Hall.
For more information on the installation ceremony, see https://www.uvm.edu/trustees/installation/
Source: UVM News