On Friday, leadership was formally conferred to George Washington University's 19th president, Ellen M. Granberg, at her investiture ceremony at the Charles E. Smith Center. The traditional ceremony conveyed institutional confidence in Granberg’s ability to lead the university in the early years of its third century. Surrounded by family, including her wife, Sonya Rankin, and friends, as well as a select number of current and previous university leaders, faculty, staff and alumni, Granberg delivered an inauguration address challenging the GW community to continue working toward shaping society and changing the world.
In addition to Granberg, speakers included Provost Christopher Alan Bracey, who delivered welcome remarks; Board of Trustees Chair Grace Speights, J.D. '82; Chair of the Faculty Senate Executive Committee Ilana Feldman; international affairs student and Student Association President Arielle Geismar; GW Staff Council President Bridget Schwartz; GW Alumni Association President Maxwell-Gocala-Nguyen, M.A. ’16; Professor and Director of the Graduate Program in Islamic Studies Mohammad H. Faghfoory; alumnus Gideon Zelermyer, B.A. ’97; and Multicultural Student Services Center Director Dustin J. Pickett.
Additionally, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Arati Prabhakar, a friend of Granberg, provided remarks. Esteemed poet Richard Blanco, who read at President Barack Obama’s second inauguration in 2013, shared his original work “Teach Us, Then.”
Former GW presidents Stephen Joel Trachtenberg, Steven Knapp, Thomas J. LeBlanc and Mark S. Wrighton were also in attendance.
Here are GW Today photographer William Atkins' favorites images from the ceremony:
