February 4–8, 2008

Events celebrating the inauguration of American university’s 14th president, Neil Kerwin, focus on five university touchstones: scholarship, creativity, teaching, service, and alumni.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4
Scholarship, Creativity, Professional Contributions

1 p.m., Mary Graydon Center (MGC) 5
Ideas into Action: Faculty Share Their Professional Experiences
Panel discussion of the academic as a public intellectual, moderated by President Kerwin. Faculty participants represent the fields of human rights, the arts, the environment, domestic affairs, and electoral politics. Panelists include Claudio Grossman, WCL dean; Caleen Jennings, CAS; Robert Jernigan, CAS; Jamin Raskin, WCL.

4:30 p.m., Kogod 118
Sound Investments: How Music Shapes Our Lives
A discussion featuring Leonard Slatkin, distinguished visiting artist; James Wolfensohn, chairman emeritus of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; alumnus Andy Gershon, executive VP, Sony BMG’s Epic Records. Moderated by Kathleen Getz, Kogod. Private reception precedes event at 3:30 p.m.
6 p.m., Katzen Arts Center, throughout the building

Arts Festival
Festival features performances and work of more than 200 students.

• Student Performance Groups: AU Bhangra; AU Players; Mission: Improv-able; On a Sensual Note; Rude Mechanicals
• Showcase: communication and art students
• Poetry Pit: literature students
• Open Studios: graduate art students

6:30 p.m., Katzen
Arts and Literature Student Showcase

• Opening: Brass fanfare. Fanfare on K-E-R-W-I-N by Haig Mardirosian; “We Are the Artists/Managers” by Caleen Sinnette Jennings
• Program: Theatre, dance, musical theatre, music, arts, management, and literature students
• Closing: African Dance class with featured African drummers

6 p.m., MGC 200
Honors Alumni Panel
Honors Advisory Council members share their experiences of how the AU Honors Program can shape careers and graduate school decisions. Panelists include Matthew Klinger, SIS ’95, managing director, Advisory Board Co.; Carmen Iezzi, SIS ’00, executive director, Fair Trade Federation; Abby Levine, SPA ’94, senior counsel, Alliance for Justice; Andrea Agathoklis, SPA ’98, attorney advisor, U.S. Federal Trade Commission; Christopher Jacobs, SPA ’01, staff member, U.S. House of Representatives.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5
Teaching and Learning

All day
Exhibits, Displays, Workshops, Discussions on Great Teaching
For locations see http://american.edu/cte/teachlearnday/index.html

Noon, MGC 4–6
Scholars as Great Teachers: A Luncheon Discussion
Panelists include Patricia Aufderheide, SOC; Caleen Jennings, CAS; President Neil Kerwin; John Richardson, SIS; and James Thurber, SPA.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6
Action into Service: Celebrating AU’s Involvement with the D.C. Public Schools

All day, MGC lobby
AU and D.C. Schools Volunteer Showcase

8:30 a.m., MGC 4–6
Breakfast to Celebrate AU’s Involvement with the D.C. Public Schools
By invitation. Remarks by D.C. Public Schools chancellor Michelle Rhee. Invited guests include education leaders, school officials, and participants and partners in AU’s D.C. schools outreach.

Noon, MGC 5, lunch
The 2008 Presidential Election: Post–Super Tuesday Analysis and Predictions
Reservations required. Contact 885-3491.
Participants include James Thurber, SPA, Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies; Glen Bolger, partner, Public Opinion Strategies; Candice Nelson, government, SPA; Dotty Lynch, CBS News political director and SOC executive in residence.

7:30 p.m., MGC
Honoring AU Community Members Who Serve the D.C. Public Schools
By invitation. Dessert reception hosted by Ann Kerwin ’71 features a musical performance by third grade students enrolled in the Imagination Quest program at J.C. Nalle Elementary School.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7
Alumni

11 a.m., Kettler-Palmer Lounge, Bender
Coaching 101
AU coaches Jeff Jones, men’s basketball; Melissa McFerrin, women’s basketball; Steve Jennings, field hockey; and Barry Goldberg, volleyball; discuss strategies, player motivation, and the challenges and rewards of coaching.

Noon, MGC 3-5, buffet lunch
Alumni Speak—AU Experiences in the Late ’60s and Early ’70s
Reservations required.
Faculty and alumni from the late 1960s and early 1970s discuss that era at AU. Moderated by Lenny Steinhorn, SOC. Panelists include President Neil Kerwin ’71; Howard Lee ’69, ‘72; Cari Dominguez ’71; and former Eagle editor Howard Gleckman ’72. Alumni reception follows.

6:30 p.m., Katzen
Inauguration Reception and Dinner
A Board of Trustees event.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8
Inauguration Day

8:30 a.m., MGC, by invitation
Delegate Breakfast

11 a.m., Bender Arena
Inauguration
Tickets required. To request tickets e-mail inauguration@american.edu.

2:00 p.m., MGC, University Club
Campus Reception
Open to all.

7:30 p.m., Italian Embassy
Inauguration Celebration and Founders’ Day Ball
Tickets required. Ticket deadline was January 18.  Black tie.