Friday marks the installation of Mary Ellen Mazey as the 11th president of Bowling Green State
University. A series of events are planned throughout the week leading up to the event.
The week begins Monday with an academic symposium on "Geography in the Changing World of Higher
Education: Opportunities and Challenges," presented by Dr. M. Duane Nellis, president of the
University of Idaho and a former colleague of Mazey’s at West Virginia University, where both served as
dean of the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences. The two also share an academic background in geography.
His talk begins at 2:30 p.m. in 206 Bowen-Thompson Student Union.
After his talk, Nellis will join a panel of BGSU geography faculty members – Drs. Karen Johnson-Webb,
Kefa Otiso and Art Samel – moderated by Dr. Rodney Rogers, senior vice president for academic affairs
and provost, for further discussion.
On Tuesday, the focus turns to sports when Mazey will serve as honorary coach for the women’s basketball
game against Western Kentucky University. Tipoff is 7 p.m. in the Stroh Center.
Special shuttles for BGSU students will be running, and prizes and raffles will be part of the
celebration. Mazey will greet shuttle riders arriving at various times before the game.
Students will be in the spotlight on Wednesday afternoon, at the Student Research Symposium in McFall
Center Gallery. Poster presentations will be held from 5 to 6 p.m., followed by oral presentations from
6 to 7 p.m.
The week culminates on Friday with the inauguration ceremony at 2:30 p.m. in the Stroh Center. Giving the
keynote address will be Dr. Peter McGrath, interim president of Binghamton University and also a former
colleague of Mazey’s from West Virginia University.
A leader in higher education, McGrath has served as president of several universities and in leadership
roles for organizations such as the College Board and the Association of Public and Land-Grant
Universities.
The installation ceremony will begin with a faculty procession at 2:15 p.m. and end with a reception from
4 to 5 p.m. in the first-floor lobby area. The event is free and open to the public.
A week-long food drive will be held, with collection bins around campus and at the basketball game.
More information on the week can be found at bgsu.edu/inauguration.