The Inauguration of President Grace J. Wang, PhD
Interim Provost Art Heinricher led the procession into the ceremony.
Members of the ROTC Color Guard marched in the procession, dutifully carrying and protecting the American flag and Massachusetts state flag.
The WPI Brass Ensemble and Medwin Honors String Quartet provided the ceremony's musical accompaniments, including "Limitless," an original composition by Robbie Oleynick ’24. Composed for the Inauguration, Oleynick's piece captures the spirit of WPI, exploring the imagination and persistence of an engineer while expressing the intersectionality of innovation.
Dozens of delegates from other colleges and universities donned their academic regalia to celebrate President Wang's formal installation.
On the eve of her inauguration, President Wang moderated an expert panel on AI and the future of work. From left to right: President Wang, Terrence Sejnowski, Deepthi Bathina, and Steve Vassallo.
The dynamic panel of experts engaged the audience—and each other—with penetrating insights.
The hot-button conversation around AI's impact on future professions drew a packed house.
Audience members stepped up to the mic and posed thought-provoking questions to the experts.
Artificial intelligence is a major initiative for the university, and President Wang's passion for future AI innovations shone through.
Interim Provost Art Heinricher joined President Wang and the panelists.
On a special campus tour for Inauguration, guests had the pleasure of getting a closer look at WPI's state-of-the-art labs and facilities. One such lab was PracticePoint, seen here, where our researchers are leading groundbreaking developments in medical technology.
Special guests were invited to a celebratory luncheon before the ceremony.
Elected state and local leaders, past and present, attended the luncheon in honor of President Wang. From left to right: State Sen. Robyn Kennedy, State Sen. Michael Moore, President Wang, State Rep. John Mahoney, State Rep. Kate Donaghue, Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty, and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll.
Steve Vassallo ’93 (left) and his wife, Trae, made a seven-figure commitment that lays the foundation for the Helen G. Vassallo Distinguished Presidential Professorship, named in memory of Steve’s mother and longtime WPI faculty member.
Rev. Debora Jackson '89 (MS), '00 (ME), dean of the WPI Business School, delivered a moving invocation at the beginning of the ceremony.
Gabriella Rios '24, a biomedical engineering major, welcomed President Wang on behalf of the undergraduate student body.
Jezabel Aleyda Aponte Figueroa ’24 (MS), a master's student in the Science and Technology for Innovation in Global Development program, represented the graduate student body in welcoming President Wang to WPI.
Pamela (Giasson) Lynch ’05, president of the WPI Alumni Association, offered congratulations and a warm welcome to President Wang on behalf of the university's alumni.
Rev. Kalvin Cummings, assistant director of Religion and Spiritual Life, delivered welcoming remarks to President Wang as the WPI staff spokesperson.
Mark Richman, associate professor of aerospace engineering and Secretary of the Faculty, bid President Wang welcome on behalf of all WPI faculty.
Mayor Joseph Petty offered greetings to President Wang from the City of Worcester.
Award-winning computational neuroscientist Terrence Sejnowski, PhD, delivered the keynote address focused on the revolutionary potential of artificial intelligence, a field in which WPI has spearheaded research and innovation for more than 50 years.
George Heineman, associate professor of computer science and chair of the WPI Faculty Committee on Governance, handed the university charter to Grace Wang, formally investing her as President of WPI. In May 1865, the Senate and House of Representatives for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts issued this charter and created the Worcester County Free Institute of Industrial Science. This founding document is the official recognition of WPI and its mission.
At the end of the formal investiture, President Wang proudly wore the presidential medallion, which carries the Great Seal of the Institute. The Seal records the founding philosophy of Theory and Practice (Lehr und Kunst), represented by the books and the arm and hammer. The seal also recognizes WPI’s foundation in the City of Worcester, at the heart of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The links in the chain that carry the medallion record the names of all WPI presidents. On this day, we added a seventeenth link to the chain.
In her inaugural address, President Wang outlined her vision for the university and celebrated the achievements of the campus community: "With focus, determination, and collective effort, we will achieve a new level of excellence right here at WPI beyond our imagination."
In her first act as president, Wang conferred Judith Nitsch ’75 Hon ’15, PE, LEED AP, with the Presidential Medal in recognition of her leadership and impact in support of WPI. The WPI Presidential Medal has honored outstanding individuals from all backgrounds and disciplines who embody the “technological humanist,” an ideal that has been at the heart of WPI's approach to education since its founding.
Diran Apelian, ScD, provost emeritus and founding director of the Metal Processing Institute at WPI, also received the WPI Presidential Medal in recognition of his leadership and impact in support of WPI.
After the ceremony, the recessional led straight to the reception. The WPI Marching and Pep Band was standing on the quad, ready to facilitate the celebration.
President Wang was greeted with fanfare by her new community.
Art Heinricher, faculty marshal and interim provost, showed off the WPI mace en route to the inauguration reception.
The WPI Marching and Pep Band played lively music on the quad immediately following the ceremony to get the celebrations started.
At the inauguration reception, staff and faculty gathered together over light refreshments to celebrate and congratulate President Wang. The event featured fresh food and drinks, lively conversation, and elegant music.
About President Wang
Grace J. Wang, PhD, began serving as WPI’s 17th president on April 3, 2023. She is also a professor in the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at WPI.
Elected by the WPI Board of Trustees after an extensive national search, Wang comes to WPI from The Ohio State University (OSU) where she served as executive vice president for research, innovation, and knowledge, and as a professor in Materials Science and Engineering. At OSU, Wang’s efforts helped expand the university’s research and innovation ecosystem, achieving $1.38 billion in annual R&D expenditures during her tenure.
'Our Shared Path Forward'
On her first day in office, President Wang sent a letter to the WPI community expressing her passion for the university's unique approach to education and her abiding belief in its mission:
I am excited about the work and the opportunities ahead and wholeheartedly believe that WPI has everything it takes to further excel. That which has stood the test of time can be further honed as we focus on our strengths and commit to a shared path forward. For our students, our faculty, our staff—and the world that needs what we have to offer—we will meet the moment.
Q&A: Get to Know President Grace Wang
WPI's 17th president reveals what attracted her to the position, what's surprised her so far, and how she relaxes.