Also coming this week: A Q&A with Sarah Mangelsdorf; Emmy Award鈥搘inning composer Jeff Beal 鈥85E on his composition 鈥淭he Pathway,鈥 to be premiered at the October 4 presidential inauguration; and a profile of聽Karl Rosengren, a professor in the Departments of Brain and Cognitive Sciences as well as Psychology, and the husband of Mangelsdorf.
On her first day as president last July 1, Sarah Mangelsdorf began what she called 鈥渁 listening and learning tour.鈥
It started around daybreak, when Mangelsdorf, an avid runner, rose for a jog through the historic Mount Hope Cemetery.
Over the next few days came visits to the University鈥檚 physical facilities that took her across quads, through libraries and high-tech medical facilities, construction sites, the University power plant, and deep into the painted tunnels of River 人妻少妇专区.
Please join us to celebrate the inauguration of Sarah C. Mangelsdorf as the 人妻少妇专区鈥檚 11th president.
Inauguration ceremony: 2:30 p.m. at Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre.
For nearly three months now, the new president of the 人妻少妇专区鈥攚ho will be formally invested in her role at her October 4 inauguration鈥攈as been getting acquainted with University and civic leaders, staff, community organizations, local media, students, parents, and alumni around the country.
One of her consistent themes is her intention to remain a curious, visible, and accessible leader.
鈥淢y plan is to spend as much time as possible out of my office and in the community,鈥 she wrote in August, in a .
It鈥檚 a difficult, but important, task. The demands on university presidents have long been significant. But modern presidents also face increased expectations on the part of students, staff, and community leaders that their presidents are present, available, and understand their needs.
Mangelsdorf is among a small cohort of new presidents in higher education who have harnessed the power of Instagram to help convey that message.
For her, it鈥檚 not about photo opportunities, but sharing snapshots, along with her own thoughts and reflections, that demonstrate to her followers that she is not only showing up, but also continually learning and making meaningful connections. On her Instagram feed at she鈥檚 shown the breadth of her listening and learning tour, as well as, she hopes, its depth.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 like to just make appearances,鈥 she says. 鈥淚 like to get to know people.鈥
Mangelsdorf, a developmental psychologist with a significant research portfolio, is known for her collaborative and inclusive approach to leadership. The arrival of such a president is a reflection of the that brought her here.
Trustees Cathy Minehan 鈥68 and Danny Wegman led a search committee that developed a job description based on numerous town halls with faculty, staff, and students, as well as a University-wide survey seeking 聽the characteristics community members wanted in the next president. Faculty, staff, and student advisory committees were integrated into the search process as well.
Mangelsdorf has earned recognition for her leadership roles with each of those constituencies throughout her career.
As the former provost of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she comes with sterling credentials as a manager of large and complex institutions, and a deep understanding of how to help advance a university鈥檚 research mission across disciplines. She has also been a recognized leader in fostering institutional diversity and inclusion, and access and affordability for undergraduate students in particular.
And faculty can claim her as one of their own. Mangelsdorf, a self-described 鈥渢hird-generation academic,鈥 continues to embrace her role as a faculty member and comes with an appointment as a professor in the Department of Clinical and Social Sciences in Psychology. So, too, does her husband, fellow developmental psychologist Karl Rosengren, who has a joint appointment with the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences.
As she and her family were introduced to the University community last winter, Mangelsdorf reiterated her belief that 鈥渉igher education should and does change people鈥檚 lives.鈥 And she made clear that she looked forward “to working collaboratively with all of you to help us reach our goals.鈥
Sarah Walters, a doctoral candidate in optics who participated in the search and hiring process, summed up the mood last December, when the University community was introduced to Mangelsdorf for the first time.
鈥淪he鈥檒l be all in and 100 percent invested,鈥 said Walters. 鈥淪he鈥檒l pour her heart and soul into this University.鈥
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A ceremonial start
“For generations, three ritual objects鈥攖he charter, the seal, and the mace鈥攈ave been the centerpiece of the presidential inaugural ceremony.

鈥楢 bit like the first day of school鈥
President Sarah C. Mangelsdorf jumped right in early Monday morning with a two-hour tour of parts of the River 人妻少妇专区.

New president Sarah Mangelsdorf receives high praise from students, staff, faculty
After a search process designed to include as many voices as possible, Sarah Mangelsdorf enjoys broad and deep support as she prepares to take the helm.