Watch the entire inaugural ceremony of President Battles.
GENESEO, N.Y. – SUNY Geneseo’s new president, Denise A. Battles, was installed yesterday during her inauguration ceremony on campus in Wadsworth Auditorium.
“It is with profound gratitude and deep humility that I accept the presidency of this fine institution,” said President Battles, who is the second woman to lead the college as permanent president in the college’s 144-year history.
She is the first president to be inaugurated at Geneseo in almost 20 years. Former President Christopher Dahl was inaugurated on the same stage in 1996. He retired from the college in 2014.
SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher invested the president during the ceremony, declaring that Battles “is the right choice at the right time and in the right place.”
A section of the president’s inaugural address centered on refuting the critics of a liberal arts education.
“The public liberal arts college model represents the enviable intersection of the best of what I experienced as an undergraduate student at a small private liberal arts institution and as a graduate student at a large public research university, offering affordable, accessible excellence in a student-centered environment that promotes personal relationships with dedicated faculty and staff,” President Battles said.
College Council member A. Gidget Hopf emceed the ceremony. Delegates from 36 area colleges and universities were present for the inauguration. Several others conveyed greetings to the president including Marshall Lichtman, a member of the SUNY Board of Trustees; Vincent Esposito, the Regional Director of Finger Lakes Empire State Development, on behalf of Gov. Andrew Cuomo; Andrew Hayes ’16, President of the Geneseo Student Association, on behalf of students; James McLean, chair of the College Senate, on behalf of faculty and staff; Edward Quackenbush, President of the Geneseo chapter of CSEA, on behalf of organized labor; Mark Scott, executive director of Campus Auxiliary Services, on behalf of CAS; Rebecca Lewis, assistant provost for international programs, on behalf of the international community; Kevin Gavagan, chair of the Geneseo Foundation Board, on behalf of the foundation; Richard Hatheway, mayor of Geneseo, on behalf of the community; John Gleason ’87 on behalf of all Geneseo alumni; and Katherine S. Conway-Turner, president of SUNY Buffalo State and a former Geneseo provost, on behalf of the academic community.
Musical performances included a Ghanaian welcome dance performed by Korye Geneseo, a Ghanaian Dance and Drum Ensemble led by Yahayo Alhassan, and the Geneseo Chamber Singers, directed by Music Department Chair Gerard Floriano ’84. Directing the Geneseo Brass Ensemble for the ceremony was Music Department faculty member Mark Collins ’07.
Brianna Kelly ’17 sang the National Anthem at the beginning of the ceremony; Alexandra Imbrosci ’16 sang the college’s Alma Mater at the end.
“We acknowledge our challenges,” the president said in closing her address. “But we have the indisputable strengths of character, passion and intellect to move forward with optimism and perseverance. I invite you to join with me as we endeavor to see beyond the horizon.”
Media Contact:
David Irwin
Senior Manager of College Communications
Media Relations Director
(585) 245-5529
Irwin@geneseo.edu