Metropolitan State University Inaugurates Sixth President

--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Metropolitan State University:

What: Sue K. Hammersmith will be inaugurated as the sixth president of Metropolitan State University during a ceremony on Friday, October 2, 2009. She follows William Lowe, who served as interim president after former president Wilson G. Bradshaw took a position with Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, Florida.

Who: Sue Hammersmith was provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay from 2002 to 2008. She holds a doctorate and a master’s degree, both in sociology, and a bachelor’s degree in anthropology, all from Indiana University. She assumed her duties as president of Metropolitan State on July 1, 2008. It is customary to wait a period of time before an official inauguration takes place.

The inauguration ceremony procession will include:

• The Excelsior gospel choir, winner of the Stellar Award for Best New Choir in 2001, nominated for a Grammy award in 2003, and directed by Minnesota State Representative Bobby Joe Champion
• The Tinta Wita Takoja (Prairie Island Grandchildren) Drum Group, led by Al Childs, Prairie Island Community
• Jesse Bethke Gomez, president, Comunidades Latinas Unidas En Servicio (CLUES), who will serve as master of ceremonies
• Chancellor James McCormick, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, and Trustee Cheryl Dickson, who will conduct the investiture and oath of office
• Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman
• Maythee Kantar, president of the Metropolitan State University Inter Faculty Organization
• William Sederburg, commissioner, Utah System of Higher Education and chief executive officer of its Board of Regents

When: Friday, October 2, beginning at 2:30 p.m.

Where: Metropolitan State University, Auditorium, 700 East Seventh Street, Saint Paul.

About Metropolitan State: Metropolitan State University (www.metrostate.edu), a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, provides high-quality, affordable academic and professional degree programs at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate levels. It is the only state university in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.

Media Notes: This ceremony is by invitation only but open to media. If you are interested in covering the event, please contact John Hendrickson, communications and marketing director, 651-793-1818.