Grand Rapids, Michigan (October 19, 2007) -
Published on
The inauguration of C. Edward Balog, Ph.D., as Aquinas College’s sixth president will
take place Friday, October 26, 2007, at 2 p.m. in the College’s Fieldhouse.
The ceremony will include: a special blessing of the new presidential medallion that depicts the College Seal, the installation itself; as well as remarks by Dr. Balog about the role of liberal arts in higher education today.
Another aspect of the ceremony will be presentations by speakers who will address the four charisms of the Roman Catholic Dominican Order and their relationship to the president’s role. Prayer, study, community and service have been selected as the framework for the expression of the College community’s hope for the continued success of the Aquinas College mission under President Balog’s leadership.
Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell will address service; Grand Rapids Community College President Juan Olivarez, a 1971 Aquinas graduate, will talk about study; Sr. Nathalie Meyer, O.P., ’58, prioress of the Grand Rapids Dominicans and a College Trustee will share her perspective on prayer; and Sr. Rosemary O’Donnell, O.P., ’61, assistant professor of communication and faculty marshal at Aquinas will speak about community.
In May, the Aquinas College Board of Trustees unanimously selected Dr. Balog as the College’s next president after a year-long national search process. Although he served as interim president for a year following the retirement of President Harry Knopke, Balog officially began his own term as president on July 1.
The inauguration ceremony will be replete with full academic regalia and will include representatives from the City of Grand Rapids, the area’s college presidents as well as representatives from dozens of other colleges and universities nationwide.
The day’s activities will begin with a Celebration of the Eucharist with Bishop Walter Hurley, starting at 10 a.m. in the Fieldhouse. Following Mass, there will be a campus-wide luncheon and the day will be capped by an evening of celebration for the campus community with food and music in the Wege Student Center.
Dr. Balog has established himself as an outstanding academic leader with a proven track record of success. He served as provost and dean of faculty at Aquinas College for seven years before assuming the role of interim president. His responsibilities included curriculum enhancement, institutional planning, enrollment management and oversight of academic resources including the school’s library and information technology.
His career in higher education has been distinguished. Prior to coming to Aquinas, he served as vice president for Academic Affairs, dean of faculty and professor of history at Marian College in Indianapolis, Indiana. In addition, Dr. Balog served in a variety of positions with Lindenwood University, from professor of history to dean of social sciences and chief assessment officer. He is a graduate of West Virginia University, where he earned A.B and M.A. degrees in history. He earned his doctorate in history from the University of Illinois.
The ceremony will include: a special blessing of the new presidential medallion that depicts the College Seal, the installation itself; as well as remarks by Dr. Balog about the role of liberal arts in higher education today.
Another aspect of the ceremony will be presentations by speakers who will address the four charisms of the Roman Catholic Dominican Order and their relationship to the president’s role. Prayer, study, community and service have been selected as the framework for the expression of the College community’s hope for the continued success of the Aquinas College mission under President Balog’s leadership.
Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell will address service; Grand Rapids Community College President Juan Olivarez, a 1971 Aquinas graduate, will talk about study; Sr. Nathalie Meyer, O.P., ’58, prioress of the Grand Rapids Dominicans and a College Trustee will share her perspective on prayer; and Sr. Rosemary O’Donnell, O.P., ’61, assistant professor of communication and faculty marshal at Aquinas will speak about community.
In May, the Aquinas College Board of Trustees unanimously selected Dr. Balog as the College’s next president after a year-long national search process. Although he served as interim president for a year following the retirement of President Harry Knopke, Balog officially began his own term as president on July 1.
The inauguration ceremony will be replete with full academic regalia and will include representatives from the City of Grand Rapids, the area’s college presidents as well as representatives from dozens of other colleges and universities nationwide.
The day’s activities will begin with a Celebration of the Eucharist with Bishop Walter Hurley, starting at 10 a.m. in the Fieldhouse. Following Mass, there will be a campus-wide luncheon and the day will be capped by an evening of celebration for the campus community with food and music in the Wege Student Center.
Dr. Balog has established himself as an outstanding academic leader with a proven track record of success. He served as provost and dean of faculty at Aquinas College for seven years before assuming the role of interim president. His responsibilities included curriculum enhancement, institutional planning, enrollment management and oversight of academic resources including the school’s library and information technology.
His career in higher education has been distinguished. Prior to coming to Aquinas, he served as vice president for Academic Affairs, dean of faculty and professor of history at Marian College in Indianapolis, Indiana. In addition, Dr. Balog served in a variety of positions with Lindenwood University, from professor of history to dean of social sciences and chief assessment officer. He is a graduate of West Virginia University, where he earned A.B and M.A. degrees in history. He earned his doctorate in history from the University of Illinois.