FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- 9/30/02 | Contact: Diana Smith, 719-389-6138  

COLORADO SPRINGS -- A former governor of Ohio and U.S. ambassador to India will be inaugurated as Colorado College’s 12th president at noon on Sunday, October 13, in the Cutler Quadrangle, located near the northwest corner of Cascade and Cache La Poudre Streets adjacent to Worner Center.

Richard F. Celeste, who took office in July, was director of the Peace Corps, as well as a magna cum laude graduate of Yale University and a Rhodes Scholar. His political career includes serving as an Ohio state representative from 1970 to 1974, as Ohio lieutenant governor from 1974 to 1978, and as Ohio governor from 1982 to 1990. Celeste also was staff assistant to the U.S. ambassador to India from 1963 to 1967 and managing partner of Celeste and Sabety Ltd., an economic development consultancy, from 1991 to 1997.

Celeste has been a visiting fellow in public policy at Case Western Reserve University, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and chair of the National Governors Association Committee on Science and Technology. He also chaired the Government-University-Industry Research Roundtable and has been a board member of Habitat for Humanity International, the Leadership Institute at the University of Southern California, and numerous other not-for-profit organizations. He has served on corporate boards including Navistar International, HealthSouth Rehabilitation Corp., and BP Oil (North American Advisory Board). Celeste and his wife, Jacqueline Lundquist, have a five-year-old son, Sam. He also has six grown children.

William R. Ward ’64, chair of the Colorado College Board of Trustees, will preside over the event, which will include musical performances, the inaugural poem read by CC professor David Mason ’78, and presentations by friends of the college.

Bruce Alberts, president of the National Academy of Sciences, will give the keynote address. Alberts is known for his work both in biochemistry and molecular biology, in particular for his extensive study of the protein complexes that allow chromosomes to be replicated. Alberts has long been committed to the improvement of science education, dedicating much of his time to educational projects such as City Science, a program that seeks to improve science teaching in San Francisco elementary schools.

For general information about the inauguration, which is free and open to the public, please call the CC Office of College Relations at (719) 389-6603 or click here for more.

The inauguration will be part of CC’s 2002 Homecoming and Parents weekend. Twelve reunion classes will gather to reconnect with classmates during this special weekend full of events for alumni and parents.

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