Joanne Berger-Sweeney was inaugurated as Trinity College’s 22nd president this past weekend.
Her leadership presents many firsts for the college. Among the ways in which she is breaking ground, the soundtrack during the community reception was upbeat and strong: Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell, Michael Jackson, Talking Heads, and Black Eyed Peas.
The neuroscientist is also the first woman and first African-American to lead Trinity College. Although the official inauguration was only on Sunday, she has been running the show since the beginning of July.
Some of the changes so far: as this school year began, Berger-Sweeney spoke bluntly and publicly about the problem of sexual assault on college campuses. She announced the creation of a sexual misconduct task force at the start of this academic year.
Berger-Sweeney was welcomed to the new position by Lawrence S. Bacow, President Emeritus, Tufts University; Kathleen McCartney, President, Smith College; and Lee Pelton, President, Emerson College; among many others during the inauguration ceremony, which included the reading of a poem written for the occasion by James Fenton.
The inauguration capped off three days of events to celebrate Berger-Sweeney’s new job.
