Photo by: Courtest of School of Communications
The University of Denver will mark the transfer of leadership, as well as the creation of a new vision for the university, on Thursday, April 20, with the inauguration of Robert D. Coombe as the 17th chancellor of the institution.
Although in office since July 1, Coombe’s installation will be marked with a procession beginning at 1:15 p.m. in Magness Arena in the Ritchie Center. A ceremony will follow at 1:30 p.m. and a free reception will be held for all attendees after the inauguration.
Student representatives from organizations on campus will have members participate in the procession including representatives from the AUSA Senate, the Alumni Association, the Graduate Student Association Council and the Student Bar Association.
“It’s an excellent opportunity for students to become involved in a university tradition,” said Carl Johnson, director of student programs and Greek life.
Although classes will not be cancelled during the ceremony, Johnson encouraged all students to attend if possible. “Students are our most important community members,” Johnson explained.
Gov. Bill Owens and Mayor John Hickenlooper will join Coombe in addressing the audience at the ceremony.
Coombe is expected to speak about his visions and goals for the future of the university. Former Chancellor Daniel Ritchie, whose own inauguration was 16 years ago, will also attend, inducting Coombe into the office as the chancellor.
The Inauguration Steering Committee, made up of five faculty members, has been planning the event since January. Faculty Senate president and committee member Cathryn Potter said that it is necessary to extravagantly plan such an occasion because the event isn’t frequent. “We celebrate them [inaugurations] as our country celebrates changes in the presidency – as a specific event and as a time honored tradition,” Potter said.
Director of ceremonies Gordon Von Stroh added, “It’s a celebration of the university continuing to move onward in terms of quality and excellence at the University of Denver.”
Von Stroh, who was also present at Ritchie’s inauguration, said that Coombe’s inauguration will be respectfully similiar to Ritchie’s.
Coombe began working for the university as an assistant professor of chemistry before acting as dean of Graduate Studies, the chair of the Chemistry Department and the dean of the Division of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering.
Coombe assumed the role of provost in 2001 before being named chancellor, a role that assumes the responsibility of managing a $300 million annual budget. In his role as provost, Coombe helped shape the Marsico Initiative, a five-year plan to enrich the undergraduate arts and sciences program and the Cherrington Global Scholars program, which allows all eligible undergraduates to study abroad at no additional cost.
