On Friday, October 14th, 2022, President Kenneth Elmore, and Chancellor Edward Augustus Jr. were inducted into their positions at Dean College. Elmore serves as the fourteenth president in Dean College's 157-year history, while Chancellor Augustus serves as the school's inaugural chancellor. This event is the first presidential inauguration for Dean College since Dr. Paula Rooney was inaugurated as president of Dean College in 1994.
Before the ceremony took place, a processional event was held to welcome faculty, staff, and students representing several different schools within Dean College. After the processional event, all attendees went to Pieri Gymnasium to witness the inauguration. Alongside the students and faculty of Dean were friends and family of President Elmore and Chancellor Augustus Jr. to give support, including former President of Dean College, Dr. Paula Rooney.
Friday's ceremony gradually built up to the investiture and installation of President Elmore and Chancellor Augustus Jr. The ceremony began with the singing of Seasons of Love, directed by Daniel Kozar of the theatre program, and a call to order by Mark Boyce of the Board of Trustees. Reverend Beverly Waring, the minister of the First Universalist Society in Franklin, then offered a prayer for unity and a call to action when injustice occurred.
After a prayer calling for a community to act against injustice, three different community voices gave their greetings. Mariah Sheirer, President of the Dean College Student Body, Jane Gagnon, the Director of Logistics and Campus Engagement, and Tom Mercer of the Franklin Town Council greeted attendees. All three speakers represented three different and distinct voices in the Dean/Franklin community, but all offered a similar message of unity and hope for the future.
Madison Moniz would then read an original poem by a student at Dean titled "A New Day is Dawning." Soon after, Dr. Rob Lawson read a historical address honoring Dean Colleges' past titled Universalists and Industrialists: Dean and the Founders. Both readings offered unique perspectives about Dean whether that would be to look to the future or honor the past.
After a music performance titled Our Time, directed by Daniel Kozar, Dr. Anthony Manaco, President of Tufts University, spoke to the audience. Dr. Manaco praised Dean College as an academic institution and how it has helped its students to prepare for their post-academic careers. After Dr. Monaco's speech, the singing of Alma Matter by Dean alumni commenced to pay tribute to the school.
When the singing of Alma Matter concluded, Chancellor Augustus Jr. would officially be inaugurated into his position. Chancellor Augustus Jr. made history, as he is Dean College's first chancellor. After his inauguration, Chancellor Augustus Jr. spoke about unity in the world and pleaded for the Dean College community to be the best versions of themselves.
Chancellor Augustus Jr. previously served as the city manager of Worcester, MA and helped to improve the development and implementation of the Urban Revitalization Plan. Recently, Chancellor Augustus Jr. helped in the relocation of the Pawtucket Red Sox to Worcester as a part of his redevelopment plan of Canal District. In his career, Chancellor Augustus Jr. served on the City of Worcester’s Human Rights Commission and with President Bill Clintons Department of Education from 1992-1998.
After the inauguration of Chancellor Augustus Jr., President Elmore was installed into the presidency. President Elmore thanked several individuals who helped him in his personal and professional life in an emotional message that drew applause from the crowd. After his thankful remarks, President Elmore preached the idea of inclusivity like Chancellor Augustus Jr., as they hope to make Dean a campus for everyone.
Before Dean, President Elmore had previously served more than thirty years in higher education. Throughout his career, Elmore has done his best to bring people of all different backgrounds together in the hopes of making a better world. President Elmore has done this by helping to expand the Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground at Boston University, and by always listening to those he has spoken to.
After the investiture and inauguration of President Elmore and Chancellor Augustus Jr., A Beginning, Not an End was sung by several current students at Dean under the direction of James T. Beauregard, a professor of the Theatre and Dance program. After the conclusion of A Beginning, Not an End, English Professor Jo-Ann Reid gave a reading as the ceremony began to close.
Professor Reid gave a reading describing her early days as a professor at Dean College and her current standing. This reading concluded the ceremony exceptionally, showing perseverance against the unknown and optimism for the future. After Professor Reid's reading, the ceremony concluded, and President Elmore and Chancellor Augustus Jr. were inducted into their positions. Friday's installation ceremony coincides with Deans annual homecoming festivities, as the school celebrates its past, present, and future. The installation ceremony commences a new era at Dean College, as President Elmore took over the presidency from Dr. Paula Rooney. Dr. Rooney previously held the position from 1994-2021 before retiring after the 2021-22 school year.
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