As part of Homecoming/Family Weekend, the University community inaugurated Wesleyan’s 16th president Michael S. Roth ’78 last Friday in an elaborate and musical ceremony attended by students, parents, alumni, faculty, staff, representatives from 59 colleges, and three former University presidents—Doug Bennet ’59, William Chace, and Colin Campbell. Roth outlined the goals of his tenure with regards to teaching, scholarship, and institution building.
“The first thing that struck me when I visited the Wesleyan campus 33 years ago was the exuberance of learning that went on here,” Roth said. I had never seen anything like it…. Wesleyan faculty change the lives of their students…I have felt the power of that pedagogy. And one of the main reasons I’ve return to campus is to work with my colleagues to enhance it for future generations of students.”
Roth stressed the importance of situating Wesleyan’s scholarship in the public culture, emphasizing the importance of individual research.
“We should require that every student have the experience of producing original research,” he explained. “Whether one majors in biology or music, film or philosophy, as a Wesleyan student, you will be a participant in and not just a spectator of the professional practices of your area of study.”
His third point focused on the responsibility of Wesleyan as a model institutional citizen, lauding the University for its efforts in interdisciplinary study, affirmative action, integrating the arts into the curriculum and athletics into the campus life.
“We have achieved much,” Roth noted. “Perhaps so much that we take these achievements for granted….Respect for difference, a concern for the disadvantaged, an activism that searches for justice, an experimental culture that produces aesthetic and scientific innovation—these are the enduring qualities of the Wesleyan education and the Wesleyan community and we will not back away from those qualities.”
Perhaps most significantly, Roth discussed the American education system’s perpetuation of preserving privilege and in turn, injustice. He discussed the future of need-blind admissions at the University and introduced the idea of substituting grants for loans to give to most students whose household income is under $40,000. He mentioned that the University has received more than $10 million in the last several weeks alone to support student aid and he hopes to continue this effort.
Also honored at the inauguration was Kofi Appenteng ’81 P’07 who received the Raymond E. Baldwin Medal for his commitment to the University and his efforts in leading the presidential search. Although the medal was misplaced, Appenteng was nonetheless humble and energetic.
“I think service is something that’s worth recognizing and it’s something that we choose to do,” he said. “My service at Wesleyan has been really one of the richest things in my life. During the presidential search, every single Wesleyan volunteer that I called for help, the calls were returned right away and they gave me as much time as I needed.”
He praised Roth, assuring the new president that he has a large amount of support.
“With all of that support, I know it’s going to be a very good decade,” Appenteng said.
A series of speakers publicly welcomed Roth to the University, including Professor of Economics Gary Yohe on behalf of the faculty, Chair of the Alumni Association Nancy Stack ’74, and Wesleyan Student Assembly President Matt Ball ’08.
“I think that Michael has had a very warm welcome here and will continue to have one because he understands just how unique Wesleyan is,” Ball said. “Being in charge here certainly isn’t easy and part of the critical aspect about Wesleyan is how challenging it can be and how it forces one to think. I believe that Michael is willing to challenge that. Sure, he’s here to make decisions about the future of Wesleyan, but he’s also willing to push that back on us.”
Also present was Roth’s mentor and former professor Carl Schorske P’81. Schorske shared personal and professional anecdotes about Roth, ultimately explaining that he is a perfect fit for the job.
“Having observed him for 30 years in a variety of functions and contexts, I have some sense of the dimension of his approach to his task,” Schorske said. “Scholar, teacher, institutional leader. If Michael’s past experience and performance are any guide, he will remain vigorously active in all of these dimensions of academic, intellectual life.”
The inauguration was rife with musical interludes, including a piece composed for the occasion, “Piety and Redemption,” by Adjunct Associate Professor of Music Jay Hoggard ’76. Roth ended the ceremony with a tip of the hat to his liberal arts education, playing the piano for a jazz trio number.
This was met with resounding applause from the audience. Roth grinned, officially beginning what promises to be an enthusiastic and transformative presidency.