You’re invited: Inauguration of UD’s 19th president

For the past year, UD’s 19th president has been listening, discussing and discerning how the University’s distinctive character can propel us forward as a national, Catholic leader in higher education.

On Tuesday, April 4, Eric F. Spina will share his preliminary thoughts on the University’s future during his installation ceremony, the centerpiece event of the University of Dayton inauguration celebration April 2-5. The ceremony will be streamed live on the University’s Facebook page.

Spina, who became University president July 1, 2016, has participated in 15 strategic visioning events, during which board members, alumni, donors, faculty, staff and community leaders have offered thoughts on what makes UD distinctive and what the University should work toward during the next 20 years. “While there is more work to do to achieve the bold, aspirational vision that is the objective, this foundational work clearly positions the University of Dayton for success,” Spina said.

The visioning committee, led by Provost Paul Benson and MPA Program Director Michelle Pautz, presented this spring some emerging, signature themes that will be refined into a strategic vision that looks ahead 20 years. These include:

• Becoming the premier Catholic university for leadership development in civic engagement, social innovation and community building.
• Making essential to the University’s mission a deep and pervasive commitment to diversity and inclusivity, including affordability and accessibility of a UD education.
• Advancing new academic programs, research initiatives and institutional partnerships in emerging fields of health and community well-being.
• Expanding UD’s footprint to other cities nationally and globally, as well as developing deeper, more visible and reciprocal partnerships in the Dayton region.
• Leadership in a small number of multidisciplinary research domains from among such areas as sustainable energy, human rights, machine intelligence and advanced sensors, biomedical science and engineering, teaching and learning, and Marian studies.

The installation ceremony at UD Arena will include an official commissioning of the president by both the University board of trustees and the Marianist Province of the United States. It will also feature two dozen members of the Flyer family speaking about “Our UD” during an imaginative inauguration filled with tradition and surprises.

Inauguration events are free and open to the public. Click for a complete list and to register for the events.