Dr. Thomas F. Rosenbaum, who has served as Caltech's ninth president since July 1, 2014, will be inaugurated in a ceremony this Friday, October 24.
The inauguration events will kick off on the evening of Thursday, October 23 at 8 p.m. with a panel discussion titled "Science and the University-Government Partnership." Moderated by Robert J. Zimmer, the president of the University of Chicago and a member of the National Science Board, a distinguished panel will explore the future of academic science and its changing relationships with government, industry, and private philanthropy. The event, held in Beckman Auditorium, is free and open to the public.
The convocation and ceremony that will formally mark Dr. Rosenbaum's installation to the office of president will take place on Friday at 2 p.m. on Beckman Mall.
Presided over by David L. Lee (PhD '74), the chair of the Board of Trustees, the ceremony will begin with an organ prelude performed by Leslie J. Deutsch (BS '76, MS '77, PhD '80), chief technologist for the Interplanetary Network Directorate, JPL. The prelude will be followed by a processional, led by chief marshal and chair of the presidential search committee Fiona A. Harrison, the Benjamin M. Rosen Professor of Physics, and convocations marshal Konstantinos P. Giapis, professor of chemical engineering; and eight Nobel and Crafoord laureates.
The processional will also include 11 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients and 18 members of the Alumni Association board of directors; 53 delegates from academic institutions, who will march in chronological order according to the founding dates of their respective institutions; and three delegates from learned societies.
Following the processional, greetings from the institute will be offered by representatives of the Caltech community; Richard C. Flagan, chair of the Officers of the Faculty and the Irma and Ross McCollum-William H. Corcoran Professor of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Science and Engineering will represent the faculty; Catherine Jamshidi, president of the Associated Students of the California Institute of Technology will represent the undergraduate students; Sunita Darbe, chair of the Graduate Student Council will represent the graduate students; and Samantha Foster (BS '98), president of the Caltech Alumni Association will represent the alumni.
After the greetings, keynote speaker Don Michael Randel, chair of the board of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and president emeritus of the University of Chicago will give his address, followed by the Caltech Glee Club's performance of the traditional college song "Gaudeamus Igitur," conducted by Nancy Sulahian, director of choral activities.
The investiture of the president will be performed by Board of Trustees Chair Lee, with the assistance of chair emeritus Kent Kresa. Afterward, President Rosenbaum will be formally introduced to the community by Fiona Harrison. After this first formal introduction, President Rosenbaum will deliver his inaugural address.
The ceremony will conclude with three musical performances: the Caltech Glee Club's performance of the alma mater, "Hail CIT"; a recessional performed by the Convocations Brass and Percussion Ensemble, and Organ; and an organ postlude of "The Throop Institute March."
A reception will follow on the Olive Walk after the conclusion of the program. The ceremony and reception are both open to the public, and members of the Caltech community are encouraged to attend. For more complete information about the timeline of events surrounding this week's inauguration, please visit: https://inauguration.caltech.edu/_events.
Written by Jessica Stoller-Conrad