News 2018: UMass Dartmouth “Inventing Our Future” week scheduled for April 17-20

Events designed to demonstrate the strengths and achievements of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the region; Chancellor Robert E. Johnson to be inaugurated as 10th leader of the university April 20

“Inventing Our Future” will be the theme of a week of academic, cultural, and engagement activities at UMass Dartmouth (April 17-20) designed to demonstrate the strengths and achievements of university, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the region. The week will culminate with Chancellor Robert E. Johnson’s inauguration as the 10th leader of the university.

“UMass Dartmouth, a Tier 1 national research university that provides a private college experience and a public university value, is a powerful engine of economic, cultural and social development,” Chancellor Johnson said. “Built on a strong foundation of faculty expertise, staff dedication, and student energy, we are strongly positioned to invent our future as an innovative university that meets the fast-changing aspirations of our students, region, and Commonwealth. I invite all members of our university family and our greater community to celebrate and embrace the possibilities ahead.”

A major highlight of the week will be a symposium entitled, Catching the Next Wave: Building the Blue Economy through Innovation and Collaboration. The event will be co-hosted by the national Council on Competitiveness. The April 19 event will bring invited leaders from academia, business, and government together to address the opportunities and challenges in developing the blue economy of the state and region.

Chancellor Johnson’s inauguration ceremony, which will be held April 20, will include his official investiture as chancellor and his inauguration address, which will set out his beliefs in what is possible for the university and the region.

Other events will include:

Reading Paul Rudolph – A celebration of the renowned architect who designed UMass Dartmouth. Students will write the words of Rudolph on university exteriors with white chalk while reading it loud in a theatrical fashion. While the text will eventually fade away its memory and the understanding it had generated will remain with students, faculty, staff, and visitors.

Rise Above Hunger – Teams from UMass Dartmouth and the community will join to package 20,000 nutritious meals to be shipped to a developing nation.

"We are strongly positioned to invent our future as an innovative university that meets the fast-changing aspirations of our students, region, and Commonwealth."

Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition – A competition that challenges research students of all levels to present a compelling oration on their thesis topic and its significance in just three minutes. Originating at the University of Queensland, the 3MT is now an international competition.

2nd Lawrence Lecture Series: The Moth – Speakers will be chosen on the theme of "the positive impact that civic engagement and community service has had on their lives."

Pop-up Jazz Band – A high-energy jazz performance in the new outdoor quad performance space.

Sigma Xi Research Symposium – The 24th annual display of undergraduate and graduate student research projects.

UMass Law Symposium – The student Law Review’s annual symposium will focus on criminal justice reform. 

Concreteopia – Presentation of an eight-minute film by William Lepczyk focusing on visual poetry of university architecture.

Paul Rudolph Exhibition – Presentation of exhibition and scholarship on Paul Rudolph’s architecture and discussion of an augmented mobile walking tour project.

Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours – Gathering of regional business leaders and entrepreneurs at the Charlton College of Business.

Fitzpatrick Luso-American Festival – Presentation of music and culture of the Portuguese diaspora.

College of Visual and Performing Arts Concert – Big band, steel band, and dance performances by students and faculty.

Unity Fest – A celebration of the UMass Dartmouth community featuring music, food, games, and other activities for students.

Master of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition – Presentation of the work of UMass Dartmouth MFA students in downtown New Bedford.

For dates, times, and registration details, visit umassd.edu/inauguration.