Investiture week to lead up to ceremony in honor of President Blake’s first year in office
University of Houston-Clear Lake (UHCL) President Ira K. Blake will celebrate her first year in the highest office of the university at an investiture ceremony that will take place Sept. 20 at 2 p.m. in the Bayou Theater. In addition to the investiture ceremony, there are multiple events happening every day of the week surrounding the event. All events are open to students and the community.
In August 2017, in addition to becoming UHCL’s fifth president, Blake also became the university’s first African-American president and first Female president. An investiture is a formal ceremony at which honors are officially conferred to a particular person. A university investiture typically happens sometime during or following a president’s first year in office.
“Dr. Blake wholeheartedly believes in student success,” said David Rachita, dean of students. “She believes that all and any efforts at the University should either directly or indirectly impact our efforts to help each and every student achieve their success. The president of any university is charged with envisioning how their institution is able to and should accomplish such a goal. [The] Investiture establishes and celebrates this significant leadership role.”
President Blake’s investiture ceremony will be spread out over the week of Sept 17-21. Each day has multiple events and is broken down by theme.
The theme for Monday, Sept. 17, is “Celebrating UHCL History” with four different events offered throughout the day. The Find Your “Callings” Panel will take place inside of the Bayou Building, Garden Room from 10:30 a.m. to noon where UHCL alumni will share stories of their journey after graduating.
From 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. the Garden Room will house the UHCL History Panel featuring charter faculty on a panel discussion about the college’s past. The UHCL History Exhibit will open at 5:30 p.m. in the Bayou Building, Atrium I, Level II, and will showcase artifacts and photos from UHCL’s past, which will remain on display for the entire week. A reception will take place in the same space from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. hosted by the UHCL Alumni Association.
“The alumni are a part of where UHCL started, where it’s been, and where it continues to go,” said Kris Thompson, senior coordinator of Alumni Relations.
Tuesday, Sept. 18, marks the start of “Celebrating Student Engagement.” The UHCL Constitution Day Celebration is happening from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Bayou Building, Garden Room and Atrium I. Attendees will be able to register to vote, take photos in a photo booth, toss bean bags, and participate in presidential trivia.
A Spirit Shirt Giveaway will take place in the Student Services and Classroom Building (SSCB) Lobby at 11:30 a.m. where t-shirts will be distributed along with other activities. Blake will make an appearance prior to the Student Government Association for a meet and greet at 11 a.m. in the SSCB.
After the meet and greet, the Student Government Association Meeting will commence at 11:30 a.m. in the SSCB Lecture Hall where the Executive Council will present a proclamation to Blake. From 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. a discussion led by Assistant Professor of Communication Anna Klyueva and Assistant Professor of Writing Christal Seahorn titled “Divided We Kneel: A Conversation on the First Amendment” will take place in the Bayou Building, Garden Room.
“We hope to encourage a conversation among students and faculty on the appreciation of the six freedoms granted to the people under the First Amendment,” Klyueva said. “[This discussion] provides us with an opportunity to talk about freedom of speech and freedom of expression as a safety valve essential for the functioning of the democratic society.”
Tuesday night from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. the final game and first championship of Indoor Soccer will take place in the new Recreation and Wellness Center.
“Celebrating the Arts at UHCL” will be the theme of Wednesday, Sept. 19. Bayou Theater Evening of Arts: Student and Faculty Vignettes led by Lecturer of Communication Andrea Baldwin will commence at 5:30 p.m. in the Bayou Building, Bayou Theater.
“The arts matter here at UHCL because it is another way for people to get in touch with the human condition,” Baldwin said. “Embodied learning helps students learn about themselves and others.”
Also on Wednesday, an art reception will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. in the Bayou Building, Atrium I followed by a gallery talk and printmaking demonstration led by Assistant Professor of Art and Design Lauren Kussro from 7:15 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Art Gallery.
The investiture ceremony honoring Blake takes place Thursday, Sept. 20, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Bayou Theater. Directly after the ceremony, Blake will be available to meet and speak with attendees in Atrium I. The meet and greet will be hosted by the University Staff Association.
Friday concludes the week of festivities by “Celebrating Innovation.” An Instructional innovation presentation will take place from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. where three faculty award recipients will present different engaged teaching exercises in the Bayou Building, Faculty Club. A student/faculty scholar showcase in which student research posters will be displayed and tours will be given in the new STEM and Classroom Building. The festivities will conclude with The Mercury Concert: Vivaldi vs. Paganini, taking place at 7:30 p.m. in the Bayou Theater.
