The inauguration of A. Clayton Spencer as Bates’ eighth president represents an important moment in the life of our college.

The two-day event will celebrate Bates College — our origin and history, our lively engagement with the liberal arts, and our special setting in the state and culture of Maine. Within this institutional context, we will formally welcome our new president.

Festivities begin with the dedication of the College Chapel on Oct. 25 in honor of the life and work of Peter J. Gomes — beloved member of the Bates Class of 1965 and long-time minister of the Memorial Church at Harvard. With Gomes’ legacy as a touchstone, Bates will celebrate the values that led to our founding and remain our guideposts today: intellectual discovery, informed civic action and the transformative power of our differences.

Friday’s events showcase the intellectual and cultural life of the college, culminating in the installation of President Clayton Spencer.

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Learn more at the Inauguration website.