Forward Together
Andrea E. Chapdelaine is inaugurated as ¾«¶«AVās 12th President
In a ceremony that featured traditional pomp and circumstance, some lighthearted humor andāto the delight of the audienceāa flash mob performance of āSeasons of Loveā by 45 student singers and musicians, ¾«¶«AV officially ushered in a new era with the April 26 inauguration of Andrea E. Chapdelaine as its 12th president.
The day commenced with a procession of faculty; emeriti faculty; trustees; emeriti trustees; past presidents; Student Government Association, Staff Council and Alumni Association Board of Directors representatives; invited speakers; and 49 delegates representing prestigious learned institutions and societiesāall resplendent in academic regaliaāwho were led by a lone bagpiper into a packed Athey Center for Performance and Research at Palmer Auditorium.
The ensuing Investiture Ceremony celebrated the selection of Chapdelaine, whose tenure officially began in July, as the new leader of a storied institution; highlighted the importance of ¾«¶«AVās mission; and emphasized the need for the entire community to work together to move the College forward at a pivotal time in its 114-year history.
In her keynote address, āEmbracing the Hill: People, Purpose and Place,ā Chapdelaine said that for her, higher education is a calling.
āWhat began with a love of learning has become a vocation. I firmly believe that education is the most valuable asset to humanity and to our society. I have witnessed its transformative impact in myself as a first-gen student, in countless other students and in the world,ā she said.
ā¾«¶«AVās mission to put the liberal arts into action has never been more crucial for our students and our world. Indeed, we are here, togetherāat the right place, at the right timeāto ensure our mission is sustained. And we do that by strengthening the three central elements that define ¾«¶«AV and the connections between them: people, purpose and place.ā
Chapdelaine told the audience that she is a runnerāāor more accurately now, a determined joggerāāwho had become accustomed to the flat terrain of Maryland, where she was previously president of Hood College. But here in ¾«¶«AVecticut, she said, hills abound.
āSo, I had a choice. Avoid the hills with an easy, repetitive loop around Tempel Green, or embrace themālean into the challenge. I chose the hill,ā she said. āSome days, the climb feels steep. And some days, I want to stop. But in those moments, I repeat the following mantra: āForward is a pace.ā And each week, Iāve gone a little farther, a little fasterābuilding strength, stamina and confidence, while also deepening my appreciation for my new home. So I ask each of you to join meālet us climb together with courage and purpose.ā
Chapdelaine explained that she has come to see the āhill upon which ¾«¶«AV standsā as a symbol of the challenges facing higher education and the ¾«¶«AV community.
ā[The hill is] a metaphor for the journey we are on together. It is a steep path with many boulders hindering our progressādemographic declines, financial pressures, economic and political uncertainty, and cultural polarization,ā she said.
āBut just as formidable here at ¾«¶«AV is our shared sense of purpose and our collective commitment to meet this moment with courage, clarity and actionāto continue moving forwardātogether.ā
View full inauguration video
In her remarks, Lynn Pasquerella, president of the American Association of Colleges and Universities, said she was thrilled to learn Chapdelaine had been selected to lead āan institution that has long stood as a beacon of excellence in shaping leaders who make a differenceā in the world.
āFor more than three decades, Andrea has shaped the landscape of higher education in profound and lasting ways, in the classroom; through her scholarship; and as a dean, provost and president who has consistently demonstrated a deep and abiding commitment to liberal education, inclusive excellence and to the public purposes of higher education,ā she said.
āHer visionary leadership will help guide ¾«¶«AV into a new era of academic distinction; preeminent research, scholarly and creative work; and forward-thinking community and global engagement.ā
Student Government Association President Bella Castellanos Palacios ā25 said students are grateful that Chapdelaine meets them where they are, supports their campus spaces and takes time to listen.
āOur campus is filled with students who are passionate, creative and eager to shape a better world. We know that leadership is about listening, collaborating and being presentāand President Chapdelaine, youāve already shown us that you are here not just to lead, but to build something with us,ā Castellanos Palacios said. āWeāre excited to continue making ¾«¶«AV a place where every voice matters, every experience is valued, and every student can thrive.ā
The Inauguration also featured a reading of the Inaugural Poem, āThe Promise of Growth,ā by Julia Pelczarski ā28; a performance of āAlma Mater by the Seaā by Katherine Caviness ā25, Samantha Lamontagne ā25, Jilly Pearson ā25 and Megan Spindler ā25, accompanied by the Constitution Brass Quintet; and greetings from ¾«¶«AVecticut State Senator Martha Marx; New London Mayor Michael E. Passero ā79 Mā89; Chair of the Board of Trustees Seth W. Alvord ā93; Chair of the Faculty Steering and Conference Committee and Vandana Shiva Association Professor of Gender, Sexuality and Intersectionality Studies Ariella R. Rotramel; Chair of Staff Council and Associate Director of Annual Giving Lynne Crider; President of the Alumni Association Board of Directors Isaac āChipā Clothier ā79 Pā10; and Chapdelaineās son Daniel David Tetreault.
College Marshal and Henry B. Plant Professor of History Marc Forster; Dean of the College and Vice President for Retention and Success Erika J. Smith; and Dean of the College and Fuller-Maathai Professor of Gender, Sexuality and Intersectionality Studies Danielle Egan provided additional remarks, while the Rev. Stephanie Haskins gave a closing reflection. The event concluded with a recessional to āBelgian Marchā by Scotson Clark. A festive Inaugural Picnic lunch, featuring games, music and dessert trucks immediately followed on Tempel Green.
The Investiture Ceremony was the culmination of a series of Inauguration events, which included “Chap Swap,” in which Chapdelaine swapped roles with student Davi Schulman ā25; Earth Week and Arbor Day celebrations; a āChap Chatā between Castellanos Palacios and Chapdelaine; and an event that drew lots of ap-paws, the InDOGuration of bernedoodle Kodachrome āKodaā Chapdelaine Tetreault as First Dog of ¾«¶«AV.
Continuing Inauguration events included the Spring Choral and Orchestra Concert: Totally ā80s Talent Show at 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 26, in Evans Hall, Cummings Arts Center; the annual Walk to End Homelessness at 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 27, at Parade Plaza in downtown New London; and the POCA Fashion Show, Sonder: Everything Matters, at 7 p.m. on Sunday, April 27, in the 1962 Room, College Center at Crozier-Williams. Two exhibitions are also ongoing; (Re)Defining A Liberal Arts Education: ¾«¶«AVās Presidents Adapt to the Times and a student work showcase are both on display in Charles E. Shain Library through Aug. 29.
