Southwestern University inaugurated their 16th president, Laura Trombley, on Friday, October 15th.
Speakers during the inauguration highlighted the historic nature of President Trombley’s installment. In addition to being the 16th president of the university since it’s beginnings in 1840, President Trombley is also the first women to lead Southwestern University in that role.
“Georgetown has an established history of women in leadership, and we’re elated to now count Dr. Trombley among them,” Georgetown Mayor Josh Schroeder said during the inauguration. “I’m honored to be one of the many who are here to welcome her to our community, and we know that she’s going to do incredible things here. Georgetown, Texas is behind you, and here to help you however we can. Congratulations, and welcome from Georgetown.”
The program included greetings to President Trombley from the:
- United Methodist Church by District Superintendent Laura A. Merrill
- Georgetown Community by Mayor Joshua Schroeder
- Southwestern University Alumni by Alumni Association President Miguel Zorilla
- Southwestern University Parents by Southwestern University Parent Leadership Council Jeanine Piskurich
- Southwestern University Student Body by Student Government Association President Will Hebl
- Southwestern University Staff by Staff Affairs Council Chair-Election Serena Bettis
- Southwestern University Faculty by Professor of Communication Studies Robert M. Bednar
- Higher Education Community by Professor of Modern Languages at SUNY Liliana Trevizan and Professor of English at LeMoyne College Ann Ryan
- Trombley Family by Nelson E. Trombley Jr.
- Southwestern University Trustees by Board of Trustees Member Ricky Raven
Trombley took office as president of Southwestern University in July 2020 and was officially inaugurated in October 2021.
“Although none of us would have wished to have waited this long to make this inauguration official, it has given everyone a silver lining opportunity to work with you now for over a year, and to know that you are indeed the real deal,” Bednar said on behalf of the faculty of Southwestern, during the inauguration. “That means we’re here to celebrate not only what we hope from a new president, but what we know to be true. Congratulations on your inauguration. We look forward to a long and productive collaboration.”
According to Southwestern University, Trombley is the former president of the University of Bridgeport, as well as president emerita of Pitzer College and The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens, as well as emerita chair of the J. Williams Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. She also previously served as vice president for academic affairs at Coe College, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
“Recognized by her peers as a champion of liberal-arts institutions, Trombley’s leadership has earned praise for her ability to raise sustainability awareness, establish best-in-class university operations, and drive exponential growth in fundraising,” according to Southwestern University. “Trombley is the proud mother of a son, and recent Liberal Arts college graduate, Nelson Trombley, Jr. She took office as president of Southwestern University in July 2020.”
View a gallery of the inauguration below (images are not in order of speaker):
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