The Woods Inaugurates 16th President
An event distinguished by great ceremony‚ the presidential inauguration of Dottie L. King, Ph.D., stood out as a celebratory milestone in the life of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC). King was inaugurated as the 16th president of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College on Friday, October 21, 2011, at 2 p.m. The ceremony took place in the Conservatory of Music and was followed by a reception in the Providence Center.
More than 250 people gathered together to commemorate this landmark in the College's 171-year history. College community members representing undergraduate and graduate student bodies, faculty, staff and alumnae/i welcomed King with brief remarks, as did representatives from colleges universities, learned societies and elected officials.
Dignitaries included: Mayor of the City of Terre Haute Duke Bennett, President and CEO of the Independent Colleges of Indiana Richard Ludwick, Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis Annette Prestel Lentz, and General Superior of the Sisters of Providence Denise Wilkinson, SP. Chairperson of the Saint Mary-of-the-WoodsCollege Board of Trustees, Kathleen Wentland Lubeznik ’80, conducted the investiture.
In the spirit of the celebration, music filled the air with selections from Crossroads Brass and SMWC Madrigals, under the direction of Michael Boswell.
In King’s inaugural address titled Advancing Our Legacy, she charged the audience to recognize the College’s powerful sense of purpose. “I challenge you to remember the history of this institution, the importance of our mission and to follow the examples that have been set for us,” she said. “We cannot ignore the sacrifices and faith that were required for us to exist today. Now that the baton has been passed to us, it is our turn to demonstrate the purposeful decision-making, determination and generosity that will define the heritage that we leave behind”
