Hamilton College inaugurates Wippman as school’s 20th president

CLINTON, N.Y. — Hamilton College inaugurated David Wippman as its 20th president during a ceremony held Saturday at the college’s Margaret Bundy Scott Field House.

Former U.S. Vice President Walter Mondale was among the invited guests attending the inauguration. 

Mondale served on the committee that chose Wippman to lead the University of Minnesota Law School, where he had been dean for eight years before coming to Hamilton. The two have been close friends ever since, Hamilton College said in a news release.

Besides Mondale, more than 60 delegates representing American colleges and universities participated in the ceremony in the field house.

In his speech at the ceremony, Wippman stressed the need for the community to work together “to create a campus environment in which all students feel welcome and all students can thrive.” Doing so, he said, “reaffirms our commitment to the full and free exchange of ideas. That is a core value of this college and of liberal arts education generally.”

The inauguration also included greetings from various groups at Hamilton College. 

They included Kureem Nugent, president of Hamilton’s Student Assembly, who said that Wippman, “cares about the students and makes a valiant effort to get to know Hamilton’s student body,” according to the school’s release. 

“Students want a president who will take into account multiple perspectives and one who is not afraid to go against the norm…. I know that President Wippman….is truly in a position to bring change on this campus and will not disappoint,” Nugent contended.

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