The Board of Trustees voted to name Dr. Kathryn McClymond president in November of 2023, and K体育 students, faculty, staff, alumni, trustees and friends officially installed her as the university鈥檚 18th president Sept. 20, making her the first woman to serve as president in K体育鈥檚 189-year history.
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In her address, President McClymond said K体育鈥檚 approach to academic excellence will result in the university being recognized as Atlanta鈥檚 premier undergraduate learning experience by our bicentennial in 2035. A is available as well as .
In addition to the traditional procession of faculty and delegates from other institutions, President McClymond鈥檚 investiture featured alumni delegates representing graduating classes all the way back to Jim Clower Sr. from the class of 1958. Musical performances were provided by the Midtown Brass, the University Singers and K体育 student soloist Amber Williams.
鈥淭he investiture ceremony is an academic tradition that dates back to the Middle Ages,鈥� said Tammy Pearson, chair of the K体育 Board of Trustees, during the ceremony. 鈥淭he tradition takes on additional meaning for us today because it represents a significant milestone at K体育. We will invest Dr. Kathryn McClymond as the first female president of K体育 University.鈥�
Greetings and charges to the president were given by Student Government Association President David Martinez-Alvarez, Facilities Operations Coordinator Luetrell Langston, Associate Professor of Sociology Dr. Janelle Pham, and Sarah Phaff, Class of 2010 alumna and president of the Alumni Association Board.
Dr. William Shropshire 鈥� Emeritus Callaway Professor of Economics, former provost and former trustee 鈥� formally presented President McClymond for inauguration.
鈥淚 have had the opportunity to serve K体育 as trustee and faculty member for 45 years,鈥� Shropshire said. 鈥淭oday, it is an honor and privilege to be here and to present Kathryn McClymond for her investiture as president of K体育 University. Dr. McClymond, we are grateful to you and excited for you. You have articulated your vision for the immediate future for where K体育 is heading and into the longer term for our 2035 bicentennial celebration and beyond.鈥�
Former presidents Dr. Lawrence Schall, Dr. Larry Large and former first lady Barbara Stanton, representing her husband, Dr. Donald Stanton, who passed away in 2019, and Martha Pattillo representing her father, Dr. Manning Pattillo, who passed away in June of this year, attended the celebration.
Led by University Marshall, Dr. John Nardo, the four former presidents and representatives passed the University Mace down to President McClymond, symbolizing the passing of leadership.
Pearson administered the oath of office and bestowed the presidential medallion on President McClymond. The university commissioned a personalized medallion to be cast and presented to the president upon her investiture. One side of the presidential medallion depicts the university鈥檚 iconic Lupton Hall and the university motto, 鈥淣escit Cedere,鈥� which translates to 鈥渙ne who does not know how to give up.鈥�
On the other side, the president鈥檚 name and date of investiture are engraved. The medallion symbolizes the authority of the office of the president and is a token of esteem showing confidence that its wearer is prepared to serve the office in all its capacities. President McClymond will wear the medallion at academic convocations, commencements and other ceremonial events requiring academic regalia.
In her inaugural address, President McClymond recalled a story from her teen years in which her mother gave a friend of hers an educational opportunity that inspired him to a career in the arts. The act of generosity also inspired her to dedicate herself to providing educational opportunities throughout her life.
鈥淚 have spent over 25 years in higher education because I believe that a life spent that way, a life dedicated to assuring opportunities for others, is the most meaningful life I could lead,鈥� President McClymond said. 鈥淎t this moment in my career 鈥� and at this moment in local, national, and global history 鈥� I can鈥檛 imagine a better place to do this work than at K体育 University.鈥�
She described K体育鈥檚 distinctive insight on excellence is the understanding that, first, it occurs one student at a time in a deeply personal experience. Second, excellence comes in all shapes and sizes and is informed by personality types, passion and experiences. Third, excellence is meant to be put into action to benefit the community.
鈥淲e were founded in 1835, and since 1915 we have been on this campus, an anchor to a thriving community that has grown up around us,鈥� President McClymond said. 鈥淭hroughout its history, K体育 leaders have shaped Atlanta鈥� Atlanta as we know it does not exist without K体育 alumni. Excellence at K体育 means impact, especially impact in Atlanta and across Georgia.鈥�
In her address, President McClymond also clearly laid out her aspirational vision for the university which she said will guide her both in the short-term and as K体育 approaches its bicentennial in 2035.
鈥淢y vision is that when we celebrate our 200th anniversary in 2035, K体育 will be rightfully recognized as Atlanta鈥檚 premier undergraduate learning experience,鈥� President McClymond said. 鈥淎tlanta鈥檚 because we embrace our history and position in this amazing city, informed by a global perspective while committed to this city and state; and undergraduate because we are committed to transforming lives at that critical developmental moment when students take ownership of their adult lives. 鈥楳ake a life, make a living, make a difference鈥� is an invitation to all of us here today. K体育 invites all of us to participate in this audacious act of generosity that is higher education, the offering of opportunity to complete strangers.鈥�
Attendees gathered on the quad for a celebration luncheon immediately following the ceremony.
Inauguration events for the week also included the Community Partners Breakfast Sept. 18; Faculty Lecture, Community Picnic and Service Project, and Investiture Dinner Sept. 19; and Investiture Ceremony and Community Celebration Luncheon Sept. 20.
