President Jack R. Ohle after having the Presidential Medallion bestowed upon him.
At 3:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3, Gustavus Adolphus College inaugurated Jack R. Ohle as its 16th president.
Speakers at the ceremony included William K. Freiert, professor of classics and faculty chair of the Inauguration Committee; Todd Prafke, city administrator for the City of Saint Peter; William Frame, president emeritus of Augsburg College; and Robert Ohle ’96, son of President and Kris Ohle.
President Ohle delivered an inaugural address titled “Celebrating the Gustavus Ethos.” In the address he reiterated several times that “Gustavus Adolphus College is a learning community, rooted in its Swedish traditions and the Lutheran faith, committed to excellence in all it does, and determined to ensure justice and fairness through lives of leadership and service.”
Later Ohle said that “I believe it is my responsibility as your President to help us bridge between our past and our future.” He then used the words of Martin Luther and said “We are not yet what we shall be, but we are growing toward it.”
The inauguration ceremony was attended by many delegates from institutions of higher education such as Harvard University, Cornell University, Williams College, and the University of Minnesota. The ceremony was also attended by former Gustavus presidents James L. Peterson ’64 (2003-08) and Dennis J. Johnson ’60 (2002-03).
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Media Contact: Director of Media Relations and Internal Communication Luc Hatlestad
luch@gustavus.edu
507-933-7510