Elizabethtown College students, faculty, staff, alumni, Board of Trustee members, donors, and the broader community gathered on Thursday, Oct. 24 to install the College’s 15th president, Cecilia M. McCormick, J.D., at an inauguration ceremony held in the Leffler Chapel and Performance Center.
President McCormick began her presidency at E-town on July 1. She addressed the crowd during the ceremony sharing her excitement for the future of the College.
“I am more motivated in my life than ever to be doing this job,” President McCormick said. “And, it’s because of this campus community.”
President McCormick also shared with the crowd her vision for moving the College forward. Her inspiration was formed out of three words: evolve, engage, and empower.
“The E in Elizabethtown stands for so many action words,” McCormick said. “In particular, as I look to the future, I chose the words, evolve, engage, and empower to give our community to write our next chapters.”
During the ceremony, President McCormick also shared her aspirations for changing the current headlines of higher education.
“As a society, when we are engaged, we are giving our full attention to motivate, challenge, and encourage others to transform and add value—a message so relevant in today’s higher education climate,” McCormick said.
She also expressed her hope for the students and future students of E-town.
“Students, my advice to you in the 21st century is to stay optimistic, be curious, and build resiliency as you self-discover and work to achieve your goals,” McCormick said. “They will become your legacy.”
Remarks also were delivered by Representative David Hickernell ’83, Dean of the Erivan K. Haub School of Business at Saint Joseph’s University, Joseph A. DiAngelo, Jr. Ed.D, and retired Senior Executive, Human Strategy & CHRO of John Hopkins University, Charlene Moore Hayes, J.D.
“She [President McCormick] has excellent vision—seeing what is realistically before her today and looking forward to the possibilities for the future,” Moore Hayes said.
Prior to E-town, President McCormick held the position of Vice Provost for Academic Strategy and Special Programs at Thomas Jefferson University. At TJU, she also served as the Chief of Staff for the Office of Academic Affairs and the Associate Provost for Strategic and Academic Initiatives. At Johns Hopkins University, she was the Chief of Staff to the Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration and Chief Operating Officer.
Learn more about President McCormick.
McCormick also has held various positions at Widener University, including Executive Director in the Office of the President as well as Dean and Director of the Legal Education Institute at Widener University School of Law, Associate Director of Admissions for the School of Law, and Associate Dean and Dean of Academic Affairs for the School of Business Administration.