Inauguration

Inauguration Ceremony & Celebration

Congratulations to Champlain College’s 10th President, Alex Hernandez! We invite you to learn more about about his vision and revisit the event highlights.

Centered on a theme of “readiness,” Hernandez outlined plans to “build a better future” for students, the college, and Vermont.

“Education creates opportunity, and I’ve dedicated my life to the idea that we can build institutions that get students ready, not by luck or privilege, but by design” said Hernandez, reflecting on feeling unprepared early in his life. In his Inauguration remarks, President Hernandez explained that Champlain’s education model is intentionally designed to get students “Ready for work. Ready for life. Ready to make a difference.”

The Ceremony

The 90-minute ceremony commenced with a vibrant inaugural procession, followed by remarks honoring Champlain’s rich history and aspirations moving forward.

Laying out his vision for building a better future, Hernandez highlighted four key initiatives Champlain is undertaking in its next chapter; initiatives that will strengthen the college’s long-standing reputation as a leader in career-focused learning and create additional opportunities around its unique and highly-effective Upside-Down Curriculum model.

Four Key Initiatives

Expand our leadership in emerging STEAM fields that span technology, design, business and entrepreneurship. Develop new degrees in the biological and life sciences. Invest in new STEAM facilities, transformative student experiences, faculty success, and new learning models.

Create unique employer partnerships in high-opportunity industries. Build diverse talent pipelines into Vermont – through both our residential and online programs – and be a net importer of talent. Expand our best-in-class career center and launch a corporate partnership hub.

President Hernandez meets with NuHarbor executives

Grow scholarships and increase access to a Champlain College education. Support student success and wellbeing as we emerge from the pandemic. Foster a welcoming, supportive and just community. Faculty success fund and staff engagement initiatives.

three students at networking event pose for camera

Event Highlights

The inauguration marked the celebration of Champlain College’s 10th president and was filled with conversation focused on “building a better future.”

Attended by students, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of the Champlain community, the weekend included a kick-off celebration featuring local food and musical acts by student bands, as well as thoughtful fireside chats that both strengthened community and provoked dialogue.