The Daily Campus

Issue date: 4/14/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Matt Lin Micheal Hogan greets two students during his inaugural celebration.

Michael Hogan was officially inaugurated at a ceremony in the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts theater on Sunday, seven months after beginning his duties as UConn's 14th president. Following the event, UConn celebrated with a large barbeque on Dow Field, near the Armory.

The presidential inauguration has traditionally been held a few months after the president takes office in order to give the president time to learn the position.

The ceremony was marked with speeches from Board of Trustees Chairman John Rowe, USG President Ryan McHardy, Alumni Association President Fran Archambault, Civil and Environmental Engineering Professor John DeWolf and Gov. M. Jodi Rell. There were also performances by the UConn Pep Band, The Jazz Ensemble, Voices of Freedom Gospel Choir and the UConn Marching Band.

An MP3 of Hogan's inaugural speech is available on the student homepage.

The ceremony opened with representatives from each of UConn's 13 schools bearing banners to the front of the stage and leading in Jonathan the Husky, attending students, faculty and staff, and visiting delegates in that order.

The master of ceremonies for the event was University Marshal and Animal Science Professor Michael Darre, who introduced Rowe as the first speaker.

Rowe spent his time thanking the many prominent guests in attendance including former UConn President Philip Austin, and various local and state officials. He also expressed his gratitude towards Gov. Rell for all the interest she showed in being part of the search committee that chose Hogan as their candidate. He then introduced Rell as the next speaker.

"It is a great privilege and an honor for me personally to welcome president Hogan to Connecticut, and of course, the University of Connecticut," Rell said. "In the short time that Mike arrived last September, he's been a visible presence not just on the UConn campus, but through the entire state."

She particularly praised Hogan's interest in focusing UConn research along the state's economic priorities in the fields of nanotechnology, stem cells and fuel cells.

"Seeing Mike taking the lead in strengthening not only the undergrads, but the graduate schools as well, is near and dear to all of us," Rell said. "We've come to expect great things from UConn in the classroom, in the laboratory, in the field, and yes, especially on the court, and I'm confident that we have the right person at the right time to lead this institution."

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