His Day Has Come

With his extended family in the front rows and featuring speakers ranging from New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch, trustee ex officio, to best friend Paul Farmer, President Jim Yong Kim officially took the reins of the College September 22.

Describing Kim as “inspiring” and “focused,” students, faculty and alumni alike said they were impressed not only by the content of Kim’s speech a call to obtain an education that can be used to solve the world’s problems but also by his delivery. Many mentioned the “joyous” feeling of a day punctuated by student performances and a solo rendition of “Take Care of This House” by Heidi Kim, sister of the president. “There is so much good will,” said Jim Wooster ’59, Th’60, Tu’60, one of many local alums among the crowd of 5,000. “I liked hearing about President Kim as a person,” said Crishuana Williams ’12. “He was engaging,” said Bianca Cole ’12. “I want to go to his office hours.”

“That he spoke to the practicality of the humanities was important,” said art history professor Kathleen Corrigan. “It’s a good place to begin.”