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The Tradition of Convocation

Convocation marks the traditional beginning of the academic year and offers a unique opportunity to rededicate ourselves to Ò°»¨ÉçÇø’s mission of teaching, research, and service. The ceremony serves as a proud reminder of the tremendous depth of knowledge of our faculty and their commitment to the Ò°»¨ÉçÇø community.

The 38th Annual Academic Convocation ceremony will take place on Monday, September 16, at 2 p.m. in the Margaret Williams Theatre, located on the second floor of Hepburn Hall. Faculty, staff, and students are invited and encouraged to attend the ceremony. 

Keynote Address

The keynote address will be delivered by Jeffrey J. Selingo, a New York Times bestselling author on higher education.

Selingo has written about higher education for two decades. He is the author of three books, the newest of which, There Is Life After College (HarperCollins, 2016), is a New York Times bestseller.

Named one of LinkedIn’s "must-know influencers" of 2016, Jeff is a regular contributor to the Washington Post and a special advisor at Arizona State University, where he is the founding director of the ASU-Georgetown University Academy for Innovative Higher Education Leadership. He is also a visiting scholar at Georgia Tech’s Center for 21st Century Universities.

His writing has also appeared in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and Slate. He is the former top editor of the Chronicle of Higher Education, where he worked for 16 years in a variety of reporting and editing roles.

Jeff received a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Ithaca College—where he serves on the college’s Board of Trustees—and a master’s degree in government from the Johns Hopkins University. He lives with his wife and two daughters in Washington, DC.

Procession and Regalia

Convocation begins with a procession of faculty and professional staff in academic regalia. Faculty and professional staff who are processing will gather at 1 p.m. in the Gothic Lounge for academic regalia pick-up and robing. Participants will begin lining up at 1:15 p.m., and the procession into the ceremony will begin promptly at 2 p.m.

General Attendance

The Margaret Williams Theatre will open for general attendance at 1:30 p.m. Staff should check with their supervisor before attending.

Community Reception

A reception for attendees will immediately follow the Convocation ceremony.