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Dr. Rowe was sworn in by Virginia governor Ralph Northam.
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Dr. Rowe greets guests on Wren portico.
The previous presidents of The College of William & Mary have some similarities. For example, the first nine presidents were ministers. Many of the succeeding presidents were PhDs, and all of them were men. Until July 2, when the 28th president of William & Mary was sworn in: Dr. Katherine Rowe. (Also a PhD, in English!)
In a brief ceremony in the Wren Building, she was sworn in by Virginia governor Ralph Northam, at her request. She used the Thomson Bible from the special collections of the Swem Library and printed by Jane Aitken in 1808, the first English version printed by a woman.
The ceremony was attended by many College leaders, as well as members of the Williamsburg community and students at William & Mary. Gov. Northam’s son Wes is an alumni of the College, graduating in 2010. He introduced Dr. Rowe as a promoter of “progressiveness, innovation and inclusivity.”
“More than any other school, William & Mary has shaped the character of our country over the past three centuries. Our alumni are public servants and thought leaders in every field of human endeavor. This is a core part of what it means to be the Alma Mater of the Nation,” said Rowe in her remarks.
She listed her priorities for her first three months: listening to students, faculty and staff, alumni and working to bring the For the Bold fundraising campaign to “a triumphant close.” (As of March 31, 2018, the billion dollar campaign is at $764 million.)
The campaign aims to raise scholarships, improve learning environments and increase international programs. Rowe said that navigating change is part of the important preparation for the future.
“We are preparing students for careers and endeavors that don’t yet exist. They will need to be very good at collaborating with new partners. They will work in teams with diverse expertise and viewpoints, grappling with problems that have not been defined before. And because that work will succeed best when it reflects the core mission of their workplace and communities, it will require both adaptability and wisdom. Our students will, and must be the intellectual pioneers and moral anchors of our democracy. William & Mary is the proving ground they need.”
She closed with gratitude for the welcome of the community of Williamsburg. She is moving here with her husband Bruce. Their adult children look forward to visiting Williamsburg.
Readers: what Williamsburg events or places do you think should be on Dr. Rowe’s list for the next year? Recommend your favorites!
The Swearing-in of President Katherine A. Rowe courtesy of the College.
The Swearing-in of President Katherine A. Rowe