Emerson turned to face Hurley before she began. “No one wishes you greater success than I,” Emerson said.
Student Government Association President Ashley C. Nixon ’12 started her speech on a light note.
Carole Garmon, art professor and inaugural co-chair, strikes a pose with a member of the KanKouran West African Dance Company as the troupe of dancers and drummers leads the recessional from Dodd to Lee Hall terrace.
“An ancient philosopher said, ‘Change is the only constant.’ He must have been talking about Mary Washington,” said Nixon, who thanked Hurley for helping build her confidence, for lunching with her regularly in the student dining hall, and for accepting the office of the presidency. “What makes that change manageable is strong leadership,” she continued. “President Hurley offers strong leadership to the UMW community, and from the student perspective, creates an environment that allows for a more supportive, personal, and engaged student experience.”
Vice Rector of the UMW Board and Eighth Judicial Circuit Judge Pamela J. White ’74 administered the oath of office. Steen and UMW Provost Jay A. Harper fastened around Hurley’s neck the symbolic Presidential Collar, a gold-plated silver chain adorned with lapis lazuli. Hurley stepped to the podium.
“At the outset, let me express my appreciation to the entire University community for the encouragement and support that you have given me during these past months,” Hurley said, after acknowledging his family, and, most importantly, his wife of 42 years, Rose, whom he called his adviser and best friend. “We are grateful for this special affection and are proud to be part of the Mary Washington family.”
Art students used their talents to express affection and support for their new president.
Hurley spoke of his modest upbringing in a small New Jersey town, his blue-collar factory and construction jobs, his 14-month tour in Vietnam, and his prophetic stint as a gas station attendant on the New Jersey Turnpike, which led him to seek a better way of life by enrolling in college.