The University of Mary Washington will inaugurate Judy G. Hample as its eighth president on Friday, April 3. In celebration of the inauguration, the university also will host a series of special events focusing on cultural diversity. All inaugural events are open to the public without charge.
On Thursday, April 2, the president of Korea’s Sungshin Women’s University, Hwa Jin Shim, and four members of her faculty will lecture on “Korean Culture through the Lens of Traditional Costumes” from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in Trinkle Hall, Room 204. The lecture will focus on the history and evolution of Korean costume and will feature a display of ancient and modern Korean costumes. A reception with light refreshments will follow.
Sungshin University and the University of Mary Washington have partnered for a student exchange program since 2007, and a total of 32 students from the Seoul, Korea, institution have spent a year studying at UMW. Plans are underway for UMW students to study in Korea.
Also on April 2, the university’s Great Lives lecture series will feature a special inaugural lecture about Civil Rights leader James Farmer by Raymond Arsenault, professor of Southern history at the University of South Florida and the author of “Freedom Riders.” James Farmer, one of the “Big Four” of the Civil Rights Movement, conceived the idea of the Freedom Rides to desegregate public transportation throughout the South. His early life was chronicled in the 2007 film “The Great Debaters.” In his later years, Farmer taught a course on the Civil Rights Movement at the University of Mary Washington. The lecture will be held at 7:30 p.m. in George Washington Hall, Dodd Auditorium.
On April 3-4, UMW will host “Celebrating Cultural Diversity Weekend,” where prospective students may experience college life by spending the night in a residence hall, enjoying breakfast at the Seacobeck Dining Hall and participating in scheduled activities. Also, on Saturday, April 4, the 19th annual Multicultural Fair will feature multicultural entertainment, food and crafts from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Campus Walk and Ball Circle.
The installation ceremony of President Hample will take place on Friday, April 3, at 3:15 p.m. in Dodd Auditorium. Along with local dignitaries, speakers will include President Shim, who will talk about international perspectives of higher education; Adam Herbert, president emeritus of Indiana University, who will speak about national perspectives on higher education; and Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Claudia Emerson, Arrington distinguished chair in poetry, and professor of English and Virginia’s Poet Laureate, who will speak on behalf of the UMW faculty. A reception will follow at Lee Hall. The event is free but tickets are required and can be obtained by calling the President’s Office at (540) 654-1301.
For more information, visit www.umw.edu/inauguration.