A celebratory ceremony officially installing Donald P. Lofe, Jr. as the 23rd president of Westminster College will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday at Champ Auditorium.
Because of COVID-19 precautions, seating is limited to ceremony participants, invited guests and press, who were asked to make a reservation.
Tthe ceremony will be livestreamed on Westminster's website, YouTube page and Facebook page.
On Wednesday, there were two informal student question and answer sessions for students to interact with the president and his wife, Lorraine Lofe.
Today's community inauguration reception at The Brick District Playhouse is open the the public.
Throughout the week, students, facult and staff were served Lofe's favorite foods in Backer Dining Room. Other events taking place during inauguration week include a Board of Trustees' dinner, the President's Dinner and a reception for Lofe immediately following his induction Saturday at Latshaw Plaza.
On Friday, Westminster's Churchill Singers will perform at 7:30 p.m. at the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury. Seating is by invitation only. The concert can be viewed on Westminster's website, YouTube page and Facebook page.
Lofe previously served on Westminster's Board of Trustees for about eight years in a variety of capacities, including Chair of the Board. He served one year as Westminster's Interim President and Chief Transformation Officer and was unanimously selected for his presidential appointment by the College's Board of Trustees in April.
"I am truly humbled by the confidence the Board of Trustees has placed in me to lead this extraordinary liberal arts college into the future," Lofe said.
Board Chair James P. Morton, Jr., said Lofe has made strides since beginning his role as interim president and chief transformation officer in July 2020.
"The feedback the Board has consistently received from students, faculty, staff and alumni is overwhelmingly positive," Morton said. "The Board is confident that Don's strong leadership qualities combined with his accomplished financial and operational acumen make him the right person to lead Westminster into the future, and we are very much looking forward to his inauguration."
In addition to Morton, inauguration ceremony participants will include Fulton Mayor Lowe Cannell; Dr. David Jones, Marshal of the College; Rev. Kiva Nice-Webb, college chaplain; Student Government Association President Krystal Ramos-Irizarri, a junior from Bentonville, Arkansas; Dr. Richard Geenen, Vice Chair of the Faculty; Jack Benke, Executive Director of Plant Operations and Security; and Alumni Council President Marissa (Tyler) Denehy, Class of 2008, of St. Louis.