UC Riverside celebrated the inauguration of Chancellor S. Jack Hu with a look to the future, congratulatory speeches, and festive music and dance performances.
Hu was formally sworn in as UCR’s 10th chancellor at the Thursday, Feb. 5 investiture ceremony where he outlined his vision for UCR to become “the nation’s model for an inclusive, innovation-driven public research university.”
The event included remarks by UC President James Milliken; Janet Reilly, chair of the UC Board of Regents; Ken Barish, chair of the Academic Senate; and Paige Mejia, president of the Staff Assembly. Student, alumni, and UCR Foundation representatives also spoke at the ceremony.
“This is a special moment—not just for me, but for UC Riverside,” Hu said to those who attended. “I’m grateful you chose to spend this time together, celebrating not a single individual, but a campus and a community that continue to deliver new knowledge to the world, transform lives and an entire region.”
The inauguration featured symbols and traditions that are part of UCR history. It began with an academic procession of Hu and other campus leaders in blue, black, and other color robes, signifying a variety of degrees. Barish carried the UCR Mace, a wooden club-like instrument with a base in the shape of a citrus and an ornamental bear on top. In the formal installation, Milliken placed the Chancellor’s Medal around Hu’s neck.
The musical performers also reflected UCR’s history, diversity, and the themes of the day. The UCR Pipe Band, featuring bagpipers and drummers, opened and closed the ceremony while the UCR Chamber Singers sang “Hail Fare UCR,” the campus alma mater.
Chuan Qin, a musician and faculty member at the School of Business, provided a lively musical interlude playing “Horse Racing” on the erhu, a two-string traditional Chinese instrument similar to a violin. Another performance featured Inland folk band Jonny Miller & Suns with a soulful rendition of the Ben E. King classic “Stand by Me.”
Later at the outdoor celebration, the student performance groups included Taiko Japanese drummers, Mariachi musicians, Ballet folklorico dancers, and a Kpop dance group.
Guests were treated to grilled cheese and tomato soup cups, Mexican corn salad, freshly made potato chips with aioli sauce, cookies with the UCR seal, hot cider, and iced lemonade.
The event was attended by families and friends of Hu as well as faculty, staff, students, and local and state dignitaries.
Among the visitors was Chenhui Shao, an engineering professor at the University of Michigan, who said Hu was a mentor and role model for him as a graduate student when he first immigrated to the U.S. in 2009. He said he wanted to show his support for Hu who guided him not only professionally but personally.
“It was life-changing to work with him,” Shao said.
