(Washington, DC) An investiture ceremony was held today at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC), culminating a week of events celebrating the inauguration of UDC’s 10th President, Maurice D. Edington, Ph.D.

Dr. Edington was honored before a full house at UDC’s Theater of the Arts, which brought together an array of esteemed guests, including leaders from District government, UDC and other universities, faculty, staff, alumni and the community. Distinguished speakers praised Dr. Edington’s bold vision for the future of the university.

“In the eight months that I have worked alongside him, Dr. Edington has demonstrated time and again that he is a visionary when it comes to higher education,” said UDC Board of Trustees Chair Christopher D. Bell, J.D. “And not just someone with big ideas – someone who knows how to make those ideas happen.”

Dr. Edington brings a wealth of experience as a university educator and administrator with a proven track record of improving student outcomes. His leadership marks a new chapter in the rich history of UDC, founded in the principles of empowerment, diversity, and community engagement.

“What Dr. Edington understands is just how important UDC is to our city – that it represents our commitment to life-long learning and opportunity and our special responsibility to build pathways to the middle class for Washingtonians,” said Mayor Muriel Bowser. “UDC is a key piece of a public education system that begins when our children are three years old and then takes them all the way through law school. It is a public education system that is a bright spot in our city and one that we are immensely proud of, and I look forward to the future of UDC under Dr. Edington’s leadership.”

During his remarks, Dr. Edington spoke to his deep appreciation for UDC’s proud history as an HBCU and the District’s only public university, and his commitment to deliver on its promise in the years to come:

“We have many bold goals ahead of us: Becoming a world-class flagship university for the nation’s capital. A national model for urban student success. A workforce and economic mobility engine for the District. A research and innovation hub that addresses the District’s critical needs. A University that unites all its stakeholders in support of a shared vision, One UDC.”

Visit our website for Dr. Edington’s biography and strategic plan, a livestream of today’s ceremony, and more information on the week of inauguration events.