19-Day Celebration Will Culminate in Oct. 29 Investiture Ceremony
MACON, Ga. — The Mercer University Board of Trustees will host the formal investiture ceremony of Penny L. Elkins, Ph.D., as the institution’s 19th president on Oct. 29 on the University’s historic Macon campus. The ceremony — which will be broadcast live to a global audience — will serve as the culmination of a 19-day series of university-wide events and activities, known as “The Countdown to 19.”
Guided by the inaugural theme, One Mercer: United in Mission, Amplified for Impact, the “Countdown to 19” celebration will bring together students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of the University to honor Mercer’s rich heritage, celebrate student achievement, amplify its mission and impact, and look ahead to a bright future under Elkins’ leadership.
“President Elkins is courageous, innovative and forward-looking,” said Board Chair Cathy Callaway Adams. “Having served Mercer University faithfully for more than 25 years, she understands firsthand the profound impact of a Mercer education, and her leadership path from a Mercer freshman to the first woman in the University’s history to serve as president is a historic, full-circle moment.”
The 19-plus-day celebration will feature events across Mercer’s statewide campuses and communities, launching Oct. 9–11 in coordination with the University’s annual Family Weekend. The weekend will welcome parents, siblings and relatives to the Macon Campus for an ice cream social with the president, tours, special campus events, concerts, athletic events and game-day tailgates. Subsequent inaugural events throughout October will showcase student success, research, community engagement and Mercer’s expanding reach and impact across the globe.
“To lead Mercer is a privilege and a sacred trust,” said Elkins. “This moment belongs to our entire community. It is a celebration of what we are building and achieving together, rather than a single office. As One Mercer, we stand united in our mission to teach, learn, create, discover, inspire, empower and serve — and make a lasting impact in Georgia and around the world.”
For more information about Elkins, the investiture, a listing of inauguration events, “Countdown to 19” activities and more, visit inauguration.mercer.edu.
