Keene State College Celebrates Inauguration of Dr. Helen Giles-Gee

KEENE, N.H. 4/17/06 - Keene State College will inaugurate its ninth president, Dr. Helen Giles-Gee, on Friday, April 28, at 2 p.m. in Spaulding Gymnasium.

Last July, Dr. Giles-Gee succeeded Dr. Stanley Yarosewick, who retired after serving for 11 years as the College president. Her installation ceremony will be preceded by an academic procession across campus at 1:30 p.m. Participating in the procession will be delegates from dozens of U.S. colleges and universities. A reception at the Zorn Dining Commons will follow the ceremony.

Before assuming the Keene State College presidency, Dr. Giles-Gee served as provost at Rowan University. Previously she served as the dean of professional studies at SUNY Cortland and associate vice chancellor for faculty affairs and director of articulation at the University of Maryland System. She has served as chair of the biology department at Cheyney University and president and board member of both the Maryland Association of Higher Education and the Society for College and University Planning.

Dr. Giles-Gee holds degrees from the University of Pennsylvania (bachelor’s in psychobiology, master’s in science education, and doctorate in measurement, evaluation, and techniques of experimental research) and Rutgers University (master’s in zoology). She earned tenure as an associate professor of biology at Cheyney University and was granted professor rank at Towson State University and Rowan University. She has been recognized for leadership by Who’s Who and many educational and professional organizations.

A series of events have been planned for the week leading up to the inauguration:

Sunday, April 23

Faculty Artists Recital, Redfern Arts Center, 3 p.m.

Monday, April 24

Tree dedication ceremony in honor of Dr. Giles-Gee in the Science Center courtyard, 1 p.m.

Wednesday, April 26

Grayson Lecture: Renaissance scholar Dympna Callaghan of Syracuse University, will discuss art and life in Hamlet and The Comedy of Errors, in the Mountain View Room of the Student Center, at 4:30 p.m.

KSC Jazz Ensemble, Redfern Arts Center, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 27

Unveiling of Dr. Giles-Gee’s official portrait in the lobby of the Mason Library, 4 p.m.

Friday, April 28 

Walking tours featuring student service-learning and community service displays will start at the Student Center Information Desk every half-hour, 10 a.m. to noon.

Installation Ceremony, Spaulding Gymnasium, 2 p.m. followed by a reception at the Zorn Dining Commons and patio

Inaugural Gala, dinner and dance to benefit student citizenship programs in the community. (For tickets, call 358-2372)

Saturday, April 29

The College community and Keene residents will line Main Street at 10 a.m. to pass collected canned goods hand-to-hand from the KSC President’s House to the Community Kitchen (just north of Central Square at 37 Mechanic St.) in the annual “Cans Across Keene Hunger Brigade.” An anonymous local donor has pledged one dollar per can up to $25,000 and the Feinstein Foundation will donate another dollar per can. To participate in this event, bring a can of food and find a space along the west side of Main Street at 10 a.m. Student coordinators will be assigned to each block along the route.

Alumni Reception, Thorne-Sagendorph Art Gallery, 5 to 7 p.m.

The final event of the week will be a performance by the KSC Concert Band at 7:30 p.m. in the Main Theatre, Redfern Arts Center.

For more information contact Ann Gagnon at 603-358-2000, or visit www.keene.edu/president.