Claremont Graduate University celebrated the installation of Len Jessup as the university’s 12th president with a special celebration, “Carrying the Flame, ” held Saturday on Mudd Quadrangle, on the north side of Honnold Mudd Library. 

Mr. Jessup officially took office this summer after serving as the president of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

The installation included the presentation of the CGU presidential medallion and chain to Mr. Jessup by Tim Kirley, chair of the university’s board of trustees, and remarks by CGU faculty members, KGI President Sheldon Schuster, and several of the university’s alumni.

Hundreds gathered for the event, including the presidents of the member schools of The Claremont Colleges. During his remarks, Mr. Jessup described the opportunities and advantages that a smaller institution like CGU enjoys in comparison to much larger ones like UNLV.  

“Getting anything done at a big school feels like you’re turning a battleship, or a battleship group,” he told the audience. “But CGU is small, nimble, entrepreneurial, creative. There’s an excitement in the air and an optimism that we have better days ahead.”