Nebraska Wesleyan University’s 17th president, Darrin S. Good, will be inaugurated on Friday, October 4.
The inauguration ceremony begins at 10:30 a.m. in O’Donnell Auditorium, located inside the Rogers Center for Fine Arts at 50thStreet and Huntington Ave.
Good began his work at Nebraska Wesleyan on July 1. Good comes to NWU from Whittier College near Los Angeles, Calif., where he served as vice president of academic affairs and dean of the faculty for four years. In his role at Whittier, Good was responsible for 20 academic departments with 130 full-time faculty and several offices that support the academic mission of the institution.
Prior to Whittier College, Good served as the Associate Provost and Dean of Science and Education at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn., from 2012-2015. Prior to that he was a biology professor at his alma mater, Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill., where he later assumed administrative roles.
The inauguration ceremony will include greetings from state and local dignitaries, colleagues and friends of Good and Nebraska Wesleyan faculty, staff and students. The ceremony will also include an acknowledgement and honoring of indigenous lands, a poetry reading by former Nebraska State Poet Twila Hansen, and a choral performance by the University Choir of “Servant Hands, Servant Hearts,” written by NWU music professor Boyd Bacon in honor of this inauguration.
Following the ceremony, a community celebration will be held from Noon to 2 p.m. on Taylor Commons. The celebration will feature international foods with performances by the Lion Dance Troupe of the Jing Mo Tong Athletic Association, NWU Jazz Choir, Lincoln Southeast High School Step Chain, DeCora Hoop Dancers, Dawes Middle School Step Chain, Kokyo Taiko (Wadaiko Japanese drummers), and the cast of NWU’s theatre musical “Newsies.”
President Good’s inauguration is part of NWU’s homecoming activities. Homecoming events begin Thursday evening, October 3, with the annual Legends and Legacies Alumni Awards Dinner and continue on Friday with inauguration activities, class reunions and pep rally. Saturday’s events include the Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony, a tailgate party and carnival and a football game vs. Simpson College. Homecoming events conclude on Sunday with the annual Pops Concert.