ANN ARBOR—Mary Sue Coleman was inaugurated as the 13th president of the University of Michigan today (March 27) in ceremonies at the Crisler Arena on the Ann Arbor campus. Coleman served as president of the University of Iowa for seven years before becoming Michigan’s president on U-M Medical School and professor of chemistry in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. Coleman has served as provost and vice president for academic affairs (1993-1995) at the University of New Mexico and as vice chancellor for graduate studies and research (1992-1993) and associate provost and dean of research (1990-1992) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She served 19 years as a member of the biochemistry faculty and as a Cancer Center administrator at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, where her research focused on the immune system and malignancies. Coleman is a member of the National Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Medicine, a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. She co-chairs the Institute of Medicine’s Committee on the Consequences of Uninsurance. Her extensive leadership positions in higher education include serving on the Association of American Universities (AAU) executive committee, the American Council on Education (ACE) Board of Directors, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Board of Directors, and the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics. Coleman also has served on the board of trustees of Grinnell College, board of trustees of the Universities Research Association, ACE Task Force on Teacher Education and Commission on Minorities in Higher Education, Business-Higher Education Forum, Imagining America Presidents’ Council, AAU Task Force on Research Accountability, NCAA Standards for Success Advisory Board, and Presidents Leadership Group of the Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention. She earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Grinnell College and her doctorate in biochemistry from the University of North Carolina. She did postdoctoral work at North Carolina and at the University of Texas at Austin. U-M Provost Paul N. Courant opened the ceremony Thursday. The inauguration address, “We, all, sing America,” was delivered by James S. Jackson, the Daniel Katz Distinguished University Professor of Psychology, director of the U-M Center for Afroamerican and African Studies, and director of the Research Center for Group Dynamics and the Program for Research on Black Americans. Laurence B. Deitch, chair of the executive committee, U-M Board of Regents, conducted the formal installation of the president, following which Coleman delivered the traditional President’s Address. A gift was presented to President Coleman by a delegation representing undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, staff and alumni. They included Sara Boot, president of the Michigan Student Assembly; Brien Hulsebus, president of the Rackham Student Government (graduate); Anocha Cornell, plant department; Saul Green, president of the Alumni Association; and Dr. Charles Koopman, Faculty Senate chair and associate chair in the department of otorhinolaryngology. Inauguration events also included an academic symposium, “For a University of the World,” moderated by Michael Kennedy, vice provost for international affairs. Symposium panelists were: Gary M. Olson, Paul M. Fitts Collegiate Professor of Human Computer Interaction; C.K. Prahalad, the Harvey C. Fruehauf Professor of Business Administration; William Rosenberg, the Alfred G. Meyer Professor of History; and Amy Ku’uleialoha Stillman, associate professor of music and American culture. A public reception at the President’s House for the campus and community concluded the day’s events.

Related links:

Inauguration webcast

President’s inaugural remarks

Inauguration website

President Mary Sue Coleman’s website