Wendy Wintersteen was installed as Iowa State's 16th president on Sept. 21, 2018. Michael Richards, president of the state Board of Regents, conducted the formal ceremony. Speakers included ISU President emeritus Gregory Geoffroy, Gov. Kim Reynolds and representatives from Iowa State's student and employee organizations.
A rich history
Welcoming new presidents with celebrations has been a tradition of universities and colleges in this country since the 17th century. Levels of formality and ceremony vary by era and university. Installations can range from small gatherings of the faculty and students to elaborate affairs that include dignitaries, alumni and the public. Iowa State's first presidential installation coincided with the inauguration of the university in 1869, when Adonijah Welch ceremonially took the helm. Wendy Wintersteen is the university's first woman president.
With each new president, the installation ceremony evolves a bit. However, certain elements of Iowa State's installation have endured over the years. In virtually every installation:
The university community offers a formal welcome to the new president
The new president's vision for the university is shared
The university celebrates the dawn of a new era while celebrating its past successes
The mace and presidential chain of office symbolize Iowa State's rich history and traditions.
Mace and presidential chain of office
Sculptor Jeanne Stevens-Sollman of Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, designed and crafted the mace and presidential chain of office used in Iowa State University's formal academic ceremonies. The complementary pair of bronze and silver ceremonial items are on display in the Alumni Center as part of University Museums' Art on Campus collection.
The mace symbolizes the authority of the university president. The chief faculty marshal carries it at the head of the academic procession and, by placing it on its stand, signals the beginning of the ceremony. The presidential chain of office symbolizes the rich history and traditions of Iowa State University.
Created in bronze, silver and tiger maple, Iowa State University's mace is an interpretation of the campanile. The bronze headpiece features two campus landmarks -- the campanile and Christian Petersen's Fountain of the Four Seasons -- and a silver presidential seal inscribed with "Iowa State University -- Science With Practice." The tiger maple staff bears bronze plaques inscribed with the names of all previous Iowa State presidents and their years of service. The mace is 60 inches long and weighs 14 pounds.
The presidential chain of office features an image of the campanile on the front. On the back is a representation of Beardshear Hall, home to the president's office. The columns of Beardshear form the shoulder epaulets, inscribed with "leadership" and "service." The campanile-inspired links in the presidential collar contain the words "engagement," "learning," "discovery" and "access." The reverse sides of the bronze sections feature low bas reliefs of corn.
The mace and first presidential chain of office ("Monile Praesidis Maxiumus"), was commissioned by University Museums and the ISU Alumni Association in 2008. The second presidential chain ("Monile Praesidis Secundum"), a proportionally smaller version commissioned by University Museums in 2018, was supported by an anonymous donor and Carole and Roger Custer.
Academic costumes date back to medieval times, when scholars worked in unheated buildings.
Academic regalia
The cardinal-colored gabardine fabric features black velvet panels and chevrons edged with gold cording. Iowa State's beloved campanile adorns the two front velvet panels. An eight-sided black velvet tam with a gold silk tassel completes the official regalia.
Over the centuries, an array of caps, gowns and hoods emerged in Great Britain and the United States. American institutions recognized the need for a standard code, and the majority of academic costumes worn now are in accordance with the general provisions of the Intercollegiate Code of 1895.
