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Inauguration April 11: Karim Ismaili to be formally installed as Eastern's 7th president

In the initial release, President Ismaili's name was left out of the first sentence. Our apologies for any confusion.

Willimantic, CT (04/03/2025) — Karim Ismaili will be inaugurated as president of Eastern Connecticut State University on April 11 - the seventh in the University's 136-year history. A series of events will mark the occasion, with the hallmark event being the April 11 investiture ceremony at 11 a.m. in the Concert Hall of the Fine Arts Instructional Center.

The investiture ceremony is invitation-only, but members of the media are invited to attend. To secure a press pass, RSVP via rouleaum@easternct.edu or universityrelations@easternct.edu.

The investiture is being live-streamed on YouTube; visit https://www.easternct.edu/inauguration/index.html for details.

Investiture schedule:

  • Welcome Remarks: University Senate President William Lugo
  • Musical Performance: "America the Beautiful" sung by Music Professor Emily Riggs, accompanied by Eric Ouelette
  • Proclamation Reading: Governor Ned Lamont commemorates President Ismaili
  • Board of Regents Greetings: Martin Guay, chair of the CSCU Board of Regents
  • Chancellor's Remarks: Terrence Cheng, CSCU chancellor
  • Student Greetings: Eastern senior Emma McCormick
  • Faculty Greetings: Psychology Professor Peter Bachiochi
  • Choral Performance: "Te Deum" by John Rutter, performed by the Eastern Concert Chorale, conducted by David Belles and accompanied by Eric Ouelette
  • Guest Speaker: Dana Mohler-Faria, president emeritus of Bridgewater State University
  • Investiture Ceremony:
    • Ceremonial medallion presentation by BOR Chairman Guay
    • Formal investiture presided over by Chancellor Terrence Cheng
  • Inaugural Address: President Karim Ismaili
  • Recessional Performance: "Here Comes the Sun" by George Harrison, performed by the Concert Chorale

Ismaili began his presidency on July 31, 2024, coming to Eastern from Bridgewater State University where he was provost and executive vice president.

"President Ismaili has energized the entire campus with his collaborative and forward-thinking leadership over the past eight months," said Ryan Quigley, director of university relations and co-chair of the inauguration committee. "He brings a clear vision to advance Eastern while honoring the values that make our university special. His inauguration is not only a historic milestone-only the seventh in Eastern's history-but a celebration of the momentum we're building together."

Raised in South London, Ismaili and his mother and brother moved to Canada when he was 13. A first-generation college student, Ismaili earned a Master of Philosophy Degree in criminology at Cambridge University and his Ph.D. in political science at the University of Western Ontario. His career in higher education spans almost three decades of teaching and administrative positions across the United Sates and Canada.

In addition to representatives from Eastern's faculty, students and staff, the inauguration audience is expected to include local and state dignitaries, personal guests, delegates from other New England colleges and universities, and faculty and administrators from member institutions of the Connecticut Colleges and Universities System.

Other Inauguration events:

  • Faculty symposium, April 10 at 1 p.m. in the Student Center Theatre
  • Reception in the Student Center Cafe at 4 p.m.
  • Inauguration Charge Ceremony, April 11 at 1 p.m. in the Student Center Lobby
  • Community group photo, April 11 at 2:30 p.m. on the Amphitheater Lawn
  • Special art exhibition: "136 Years of Eastern Leadership," April 7-27, Art Gallery, Fine Arts Instructional Center. The exhibition features portraits of the nine prior principals and presidents of Eastern Connecticut State University, including the newly completed portrait of former president Elsa Nunez, which will be presented for the first time.

"From the faculty symposium to the formal ceremony and celebration," said Quigley, "the week ahead will be full of memorable moments, and we're excited to invite the entire campus to be part of it."

For more information, visit the Inauguration website: www.easternct.edu/inauguration

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Eastern Connecticut State University is the state of Connecticut's public liberal arts university, serving upwards of 4,000 students annually on its Willimantic campus. A residential campus offering 41 majors and 68 minors, Eastern offers students a strong liberal arts foundation grounded in a variety of applied learning opportunities. Ranked among the top 25 public institutions in the North by U.S. News & World Report in its 2024-25 Best Colleges ratings, Eastern has also been awarded 'Green Campus' status by the Princeton Review 15 years in a row. For more information, visit www.easternct.edu.

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