Oglethorpe University will celebrate the investiture of Kathryn McClymond, the 18th president of the university, with a series of special events September 19-20, 2024.
President Kathryn McClymond, Ph.D.
The Oglethorpe University Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve Dr. Kathryn McClymond as the institution’s 18th president. Previously serving as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. McClymond joined Oglethorpe in July 2021.
The Presidential Investiture Ceremony
An investiture is an academic ceremony steeped in tradition, symbolizing the pursuit of knowledge in higher education. The investiture of Dr. Kathryn McClymond is an opportunity to celebrate as a community as the university moves forward.
The investiture includes an academic procession of Oglethorpe’s faculty, as well as delegates from other colleges and universities. Participants in the processional will wear academic regalia representing their own institutions and education. The event also includes representatives of Oglethorpe alumni as part of the procession.
Academic Regalia
The academic procession reflects a tradition that goes back to the great medieval universities of England. The distinctive caps, gowns, and hoods originated in the 12th century. Over time, refinements were added to indicate the wearer’s academic credentials and field. By the turn of the twentieth century, American colleges and universities used standard black regalia; however, a number of schools, such as Harvard and Yale, have maintained their own distinctive regalia, as do European institutions.
The cap was originally a type of beret which is still seen. The distinctive mortarboard, or Oxford cap, is more common. The tassel can be the standard black or it can signify the degree earned. The gold tassel is sometimes, but not always, worn by holders of a doctorate.
The hood represents the institution from which the wearer holds the advanced degree. The bachelor’s hood is the shortest in length; the master’s hood is three and one-half feet, and the doctor’s hood is four feet. The colors that line the hoods are those of the institution conferring the degree. The velvet trim on the master’s and doctor’s hoods worn by faculty represents the academic discipline or field of learning in which the degree was earned. Oglethorpe Faculty and university delegates wear the traditional attire of the college or university that conferred their degrees.
Academic Mace
A mace is defined as a ceremonial staff borne or displayed as the symbol of authority of a legislative body. Over time, the mace has become a symbol of leadership, with academic maces representing the authority invested in the president of an institution of higher learning by its governing board. Ceremonial maces symbolize authority, learning and scholarship, history, reputation, and values while commemorating honor, pageantry, purpose, stability and continuity.
Oglethorpe University’s wooden mace bears the seal of the university and the coat of arms of the James Edward Oglethorpe family. The current mace was re-worked in 1975 prior to the inauguration of Dr. Manning Pattillo. The mace is nearly four feet in length and weighs nearly nine pounds.
Presidential Medallion
In honor of the inauguration of Dr. Kathryn McClymond, the university commissioned a personalized medallion to be cast and presented to the president upon her investiture. One side of the presidential medallion depicts the university’s iconic Lupton Hall and the university motto, Nescit Cedere, which translates to “one who does not know how to give up.” On the other side, the president’s name and date of investiture are engraved. The medallion symbolizes the authority of the office of the president and is a token of esteem showing confidence that its wearer is prepared to serve this office in all of its capacities. The president will thereafter wear the medallion at academic convocations, commencements and other ceremonial events requiring academic regalia.
If you have any questions about the inauguration events, please contact [email protected].