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University of Michigan-Dearborn will mark the inauguration of Chancellor Domenico Grasso with a number of events on campus this week designed to celebrate the university’s 60-year legacy of excellence while looking ahead to the next chapter. Grasso has served as the university’s sixth chancellor since Aug. 1, 2018, after unanimous approval from the U-M Board of Regents.
Inauguration day is Friday, April 12, and will begin with a faculty and student research showcase. Starting at 9:30 a.m. in the Institute for Advanced Vehicle Systems (IAVS), students will highlight their research through poster sessions and equipment displays — including the student-built Formula SAE cars and an in-development autonomous shuttle. At 10 a.m., in the IAVS Borg Warner Auditorium, eight faculty members will present lightning talks on topics ranging from food insecurity to workplace culture to presidential power in the age of Trump.
Grasso will be formally installed Friday during a 1 p.m. ceremony in the Fieldhouse. The ceremony is open to the public and also will be streamed live on the university’s Facebook page.
The ceremony will begin with a traditional academic procession from the University Center into the Fieldhouse. The procession is designed to symbolize the worldwide community of scholars to which UM-Dearborn belongs. It will include U-M regents and faculty and senior officers from all three University of Michigan campuses, as well as representatives from universities across the country and an alumni representative from every UM-Dearborn graduating class. The procession also will mark the first use of the university’s new ceremonial mace and college flags.
Prairie View A&M University President Ruth Simmons will deliver the inaugural address. Simmons previously served as president of Brown University and Smith College, where she launched the first engineering program at an American women’s college and named Grasso its founding director.
Related: See the full list of speakers
Following his installation by U-M Regental Chair Ron Weiser, Grasso will give the chancellor’s address. He is expected to speak about the critical role of a regional university and lay out his vision for UM-Dearborn’s future.
A community reception at Fair Lane, Home of Clara & Henry Ford will begin immediately after the installation ceremony. The reception, meant to allow the community to informally welcome the chancellor, will include music from The Friars and the Chris Codish Trio. A campus shuttle will run through 6 p.m. to assist guests from the reception to the Fieldhouse and university parking lots.
Prior to inauguration day, Grasso and his wife, Susan, will host a celebratory lunch for students. Scheduled for Thursday, April 11, at 11 a.m., the event will include live music, selfies with the chancellor, discussions about the future direction of UM-Dearborn and student displays.
Parking note: Parking lots E5, E6, E7 and F will be reserved for guests beginning Friday, April 12, 9 a.m. Public Safety will monitor lots closely throughout the day and may decide to open these lots for faculty, staff and student parking, depending on event attendance.
