The installation ceremony for Indiana University East Chancellor Kathryn Cruz-Uribe will be held in the historic Richmond Depot District at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, October 25, at the Pennsylvania Railroad Depot.  The theme of the ceremony will highlight Indiana University East as “A Steward of Place,” symbolizing the university’s deep commitment to the community and region it serves.

“It is meaningful for us to hold this special event in the community because our institution is rooted in our region, and I have used the term ‘Steward of Place’ to describe this,” said Cruz-Uribe. “We have a commitment to a student-centered culture, to serving traditionally underserved populations, and to research and service that advance the economic and cultural development of our region.”

The event will mark the first time in the nearly 200-year history of Indiana University that the inauguration of a president or installation of a chancellor has not been held on a campus.

“I am particularly excited about this wonderful venue because of my personal interest in architecture and historic preservation,” said Cruz-Uribe.  “In fact, I studied Daniel Burnham, the Depot building’s architect, when I was in college.”

Thirteen U.S. presidents have traveled through the Pennsylvania Railroad Depot, which was designed by renowned architect Daniel Burnham and built in 1902.  The depot building is the focal point of Richmond’s Historic Depot District, an area that has become a popular destination among IU East’s growing student population.  Depot District establishments will cater the installation event to showcase multiple businesses from the area.

“We are grateful to (building owner) Roger Richert and to Barnhizer & Associates for making this special event possible,” said IU East Vice Chancellor for External Affairs Rob Zinkan.  “The building looks incredible thanks to Barnhizer’s work, and we can’t wait for the community to see it and celebrate the installation of Chancellor Cruz-Uribe with us.”

Cruz-Uribe, who started in her role on July 1, 2013, is IU East’s sixth chancellor since the university was established in 1971. Before joining IU East, Cruz-Uribe was provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at California State University (CSU), Monterey Bay, from 2007 to 2013, where she was responsible for leading the academic programs of the university, including four colleges and the university library.  Before joining CSU, she was at Northern Arizona University from 1989 to 2007, serving four years as dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

An archaeologist, Cruz-Uribe graduated magna cum laude from Middlebury College with two majors, art history and anthropology, and received an A.M. and a Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of Chicago. Her area of expertise is the analysis of animal bones from archaeological sites, and she conducted field and laboratory research in South Africa for more than 20 years. She has received numerous grants for both teaching and research, and has co-authored a book and more than 40 articles and chapters pertaining to her research.

The installation ceremony serves as the formal charging of a new chancellor by the president of Indiana University and the board of trustees. It is significant moment in the life of the university, connecting longstanding traditions and symbols to the promises of a bright and inspiring future.

Due to space limitations, the ceremony is an invitation-only event, but IU East is hosting a variety of events in the Depot District that are free and open to the public as part of its homecoming week, including a parade on October 23 at 6:15 p.m. and a block party on October 25 from 6-9 p.m.