Shortly before the start of the installation ceremony for President Garry W. Jenkins on May 4 in Merrill Gymnasium, Sarah Potter 鈥�77, the retired longtime director of the 乐播传媒 College Store, talked about the power of institutional rituals.
鈥淩ituals are invaluable for the sense of intimacy and community that they create,鈥� she said.
And Jenkins鈥� friends knew that he would take full advantage of his magic moment.
鈥淔or someone who is quite informal, Garry really likes rituals,鈥� said Martha Chamallas, a friend and professor emerita of law at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. 鈥�I think it speaks volumes. Garry finds pleasure in ritual because he finds joy in the people behind the institutional rituals 鈥� and he鈥檚 really open to becoming your new close friend!鈥�
More than 1,000 乐播传媒 students, faculty, staff, trustees, presidents emeriti, and alumni, joined by 60-plus delegates and many Jenkins family members, turned out to welcome, praise, and appreciate Garry W. Jenkins, turning the 乐播传媒 campus into a place of community and intimacy.
Speaking with 乐播传媒 News senior writer Deirdre Stires, editorial assistant Hannah Kotheri ’26, and editorial director Jay Burns, here鈥檚 what they said:
乐播传媒 students
To serve the approximately 300 guests at the inaugural dinner in the Gray Athletic Building the night before the inauguration, Dining Services for the first time enlisted student workers for the event鈥檚 waitstaff. Two waiters were Emmon Blackburn 鈥�27 of Nardin, Okla., and Zak Adler of Jamaica Plain, Mass.
Chill place: 鈥淛ust knowing what I鈥檓 representing by doing this is kind of cool, definitely. Everyone back in the kitchen knows each other and they鈥檙e always making jokes. It feels like a pretty chill place really, like one big and a-little-disoriented family!鈥� 鈥� Blackburn
Fancy vest: 鈥淚 helped set up this event on Wednesday, so by how formal everything was, I got a sense that it was pretty important. Just the fact that I’m wearing this fancy vest tells you that it鈥檚 a big event! It鈥檚 super cool that Garry is in touch with the student body and you see him all around campus.鈥� 鈥� Adler
On Saturday morning shortly after 10:30, the academic procession moved from Commons to Merrill Gymnasium for the installation ceremony, where the 乐播传媒 College Orchestra, featuring many students, performed William Grant Still鈥檚 Festive Overture.
Big deal: 鈥淭here鈥檚 definitely a lot of pressure to perform my best today. This is a big deal. Being a part of the ceremony is truly an honor.鈥� 鈥� Joel Keith 鈥�27 of San Francisco, Calif., who played the trumpet
Nerve wracking: 鈥淚 feel in shock. I鈥檓 so excited to support Garry and be a part of this historic moment. Yes, it鈥檚 nerve wracking to perform today, but I鈥檓 proud to represent the college. Music is powerful, and having this event is important; it brings people together.鈥� 鈥� Jade Pierce 鈥�27 of Dracut, Mass., who played the viola in the orchestra
Full circle: 鈥淚t鈥檚 not every day something like this happens. The students know President Jenkins; he takes the time to get to know students. Today feels more like a personal connection, like a full circle moment.鈥� 鈥� Maddy Ewell 鈥�24, a neuroscience major from Ridgewood, N.J., who played the violin
Surreal: 鈥淚t鈥檚 really cool how often we see President Jenkins around campus. He鈥檚 just so present among the student body. It鈥檚 surreal to see him officially become president after all of these months leading the college.鈥� 鈥� Mavy Ho 鈥�26, a neuroscience major from Gorham, Maine, who played the violin
Shortly before the 10:30 a.m. start of the ceremony, students made their way from breakfast in Commons to the gym.
Feeling lucky: 鈥淪ince there have only ever been eight other presidents during the college鈥檚 history, it鈥檚 so special to be a part of one of the classes that has the opportunity to witness this type of historic moment. It鈥檚 so special to see a president inaugurated. I feel so lucky.鈥� 鈥� Janney Halperin 鈥�26, an environmental studies major from Meredith, N.H.
At the installation ceremony, members of 乐播传媒 Student Government served as student delegates, including Zain Ali 鈥�27 of Lebanon, Ohio, and Mariam Almzainy 鈥�27 of Madaba, Jordan.
Fantastic: 鈥淚t feels like a once-in-a-lifetime event for a college student and a really fitting way to end the year. It鈥檚 so nice to see all these people who are related to Garry or who want to be here in one way or another. I think it鈥檚 going to be a fantastic, fantastic day.鈥� 鈥� Ali
Inspiration: 鈥淟ast night was the dinner for all the people who were involved in the inauguration and all of these comments that we heard about Garry just showed us what a great man he is. That gives me inspiration to reach peace, to provide people with hope, and the positive influences we are looking for in this world.鈥� 鈥� Almzainy
We all belong: 鈥淵ou have signaled repeatedly that we all belong here, all have a place here, all have a contribution to make and a mark to leave on this college that we all care for so deeply.鈥� 鈥� Rebecca Anderson 鈥�24 of Boone, N.C., in her and Student Government co-president Dhruv Chandra’s shared welcome on behalf of students
乐播传媒 faculty and staff
Pretty powerful: 鈥淭here鈥檚 so much evidence about how much the students admire Garry and just already love him and everything about him. Yes, he goes to lots of things on campus. But they love him for his admiration of our principals and his commitment to education and because he wants to be president of a liberal arts college. That鈥檚 pretty powerful.鈥� 鈥� James Reese, the associate dean for international student programs and a member of the 乐播传媒 staff since 1977
New and possible: 鈥淩ituals of hope and joy are just lovely things for a college to acknowledge and lean into. It鈥檚 a really beautiful day to think about what鈥檚 new and what鈥檚 possible.鈥� 鈥� The Rev. Brittany Longsdorf, the college鈥檚 multifaith chaplain
Pass the baton: 鈥淚t鈥檚 fantastic when you pass the baton and a fabulous person picks it up from you. It鈥檚 been wonderful to see the welcome that Garry has given to all the incoming delegates, the alums coming back, the trustees, and how thrilled everybody is, and to see the welcome that Garry has received from this community.鈥� 鈥� President Emerita Clayton Spencer, Jenkins鈥� predecessor, one of two former presidents, with Elaine Tuttle Hansen, who took part in the installation ceremony
Moving forward: 鈥淭his is an exciting and historic day for the college and certainly a day that we are celebrating not only Garry Jenkins, but also the institution, and our tradition, and our history and how we envision that history and tradition moving forward.鈥� 鈥� Gwen Lexow, associate vice president for Title IX and Civil Rights and the delegate for Knox College, where she is an alumna and a trustee
Directness: 鈥淲e see in you the curiosity and thoughtfulness and openness to the ideas of others that we center in our teaching, inside and outside the classroom. And we appreciate the directness with which you address the complexities and injustices of the current moment.鈥� 鈥� Professor of French and Francophone Studies Mary T. Rice-DeFosse, from her official welcome on behalf of the 乐播传媒 faculty
Renewal: 鈥淢y initial thoughts are: It鈥檚 a new beginning, a different administration, and I鈥檓 looking forward to what Garry has to bring. And already he鈥檚 brought a wonderful energy of renewal and excitement.鈥� 鈥� Associate Professor of American Studies Myron Beasley, who marched with his faculty colleagues in the academic procession
Reassembled campus: 鈥淚t鈥檚 fun to see the campus reassemble itself for an event like this that really is about celebrating the joy of community. It鈥檚 fun to see how many people are coming here, seeing the indoor track rearranged into an event space that鈥檚 not for getting really sweaty! It鈥檚 really marvelous. It鈥檚 great.鈥� 鈥� Associate Professor of History Joe Hall, who marched with his faculty colleagues in the academic procession and also sang in the Maine Music Society Chorale
Energy and joy: 鈥淚鈥檓 so excited to have Garry and to have this moment. He just has so much energy, and joy, and love, and care.鈥� 鈥� Melanie McGuire is director of information services for 乐播传媒 Human Resources and was the delegate for Thomas College, where she earned an MBA
Set apart: 鈥淥ur rituals, whether an inauguration or graduation or reunion, are what help set colleges apart from so many other organizations and businesses.鈥� 鈥擪erry O鈥橞rien, who retired as the 乐播传媒 assistant dean of the faculty in 2022
乐播传媒 alumni
Bursting with pride: 鈥淢y classmate who is here and I, we both said our hearts are just bursting with pride. We feel such promise, like this is a promising time for 乐播传媒. Having Garry Jenkins here, what a great step forward for us. I鈥檝e never felt so proud to be a 乐播传媒ie. I grew up in Portland, a poor kid, and 乐播传媒 gave me everything.鈥� 鈥� Marjorie McCormick Davis 鈥�76, the delegate for Vanderbilt University, where she earned a doctorate, who teared up as she offered her comment
乐播传媒 is people: 鈥溊植ゴ� is not the buildings, it鈥檚 the people. And I see that in Garry. He reinforces the reason people went here: we鈥檝e alway had minorities, always had women. And I鈥檓 hearing that both from parents and also from students.鈥� 鈥� Chuck James 鈥�78, member of the 乐播传媒 Alumni Council who met Jenkins recently at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., hosted by the Benjamin Mays Black Alumni Society, for which James serves as treasurer
Monumental moment: 鈥淚 think it’s a monumental moment for the school in a time of a lot of change: in education, in the world. Just to be the ninth president in the long history of this school is pretty extraordinary. He’s just a great leader. So I just wanted to be here and be part of the event.鈥� 鈥� Bill Carey 鈥�82, member of the college鈥檚 Cheney Society, which comprises former members of the 乐播传媒 College Board of Trustees
Best person: 鈥淚t鈥檚 such a wonderful moment of community, so many different people coming together to celebrate just a momentous occasion: the ninth president of 乐播传媒 and also our first Black president 鈥� which is of personal great importance to me 鈥� and, by far, the best person for the job. I think that鈥檚 what we鈥檙e most excited about.鈥� 鈥� Lance Matthiesen 鈥�85, a member of the Board of Trustees and the Benjamin Mays Black Alumni Society
A testament: 鈥淭his is a really historic moment and I’m just really proud to be here as an alum and I鈥檓 really excited to see what Garry ends up doing at 乐播传媒. Having the first Black and gay president is both historic and really important. But I also think it speaks to 乐播传媒’ legacy and dedication to diversity and inclusion. I think it鈥檚 a testament to that.鈥� 鈥� Ashleigh Dior Coren 鈥�07 of Takoma Park, Md., on campus this spring to teach a Short Term course on museum interpretation and storytelling
Garry Jenkins鈥� family and friends
A good fit: 鈥淚鈥檓 proud, of course. And he鈥檚 worked hard. He鈥檚 very grounded and always prepared. 乐播传媒 is a good fit for him. He鈥檚 very interested in education and students and people, and there are things he wants to accomplish. And I think he鈥檒l do them here. Walking through the campus, the smiles on the students鈥� faces and, sometimes, they comment how glad they are he鈥檚 here, that he is here for them and they feel it.鈥� 鈥� Leslie Jenkins, mother of Garry W. Jenkins
Blessed to be embraced: 鈥淕arry and I are thrilled to be part of the 乐播传媒 community and blessed to have been embraced so warmly by everyone in it, not only today but every day since he was first named as president last March. We look forward to deepening our relationship with the college and community in the years ahead.鈥� 鈥� Jon J. Lee, Garry Jenkins鈥� husband and the delegate for his alma mater, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Giving everything: 鈥淕arry has been a champion for liberal arts education for 37 years. I can recall the exact number of years because this high achiever wrote a book about the college admissions process at 16 years old! He will give everything in his heart to serve 乐播传媒 and its staff and faculty and guide this esteemed institution to continued success.鈥� 鈥� Garry Jenkins鈥� brother, Chris Jenkins, from his toast at Friday鈥檚 inauguration dinner
Harness the power: 鈥淧eople think of transformational leaders as people who changed institutions or organizations, but that鈥檚 not what I mean here. Garry loves institutions and actions that transform people. He will not try to change 乐播传媒, but instead will seek to harness the power of 乐播传媒 and see how it transforms the lives of its students.鈥� 鈥� Donald Tobin, a longtime friend and former colleague of Jenkins鈥� at the Moritz College of Law at The Ohio State University, in his toast to Jenkins
Embodied inclusiveness: 鈥淟ong before the word became fashionable, Garry embodied inclusiveness. He’s a generous spirit who gives people leeway to make mistakes and he knows that not everyone is always their best self. But there is a difference between being tolerant and inclusive and being compliant. What makes Garry truly inclusive is that he actually has very little tolerance for people who aren’t kind, for people who lie, or for people who are dismissive of other people.鈥� 鈥� Martha Chamallas, professor emerita of law, Moritz College of Law at The Ohio University, in her toast to Jenkins
Higher education delegates, colleagues, and guests
Awesome collision: 鈥淚 spent an enormous amount of time at 乐播传媒 growing up. I had a radio show at WRBC, I practiced with the 乐播传媒 ultimate team all through high school. So it鈥檚 really fun to be on a campus that I love, representing my own alma mater, and it’s just kind of this awesome collision of all of my worlds.鈥� 鈥� Luke Livingston, who grew up in Auburn and is the founder of Lewiston-based Baxter Brewing Co., is an alumnus of Clark University
Ethical and impactful: 鈥淭hrough 乐播传媒 and all that the 乐播传媒 community represents, Garry鈥檚 ethical and impactful leadership, rooted in the liberal arts and an enduring set of values and humane capacities, will know no limits. Congratulations, 乐播传媒 College, on being on the Jenkins journey!鈥� 鈥� Wendy Raymond, president and professor of biology at Haverford College, Jenkins鈥� undergraduate alma mater, who offered the traditional welcome on behalf of the academy
Not luck, but brilliance: 鈥淥n the one hand, I want to say 乐播传媒 is so lucky to have Garry Jenkins as its president, but I don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 luck. I think it鈥檚 brilliance on the part of your search committee and your board. It鈥檚 just the right person in the right place at the right time. He is a problem solver. He is transformational in a way that makes other people do their absolute best.鈥� 鈥� Susan Krinsky is executive vice president for operations and chief of staff of the Law School Admission Council
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