Inauguration of MaryAnn Baenninger, 14th President of the College of Saint Benedict

The inauguration of a new president is a significant milestone in the history of a college. It marks the beginning of a new era, drawing meaning from the past while also setting the path for the future.

The installation ceremony for MaryAnn Baenninger, 14th president of the College of Saint Benedict, took place on Friday, April 22, 2005. It was the formal beginning of the new presidency and a celebration of the intellectual mission of the college. It was the culmination of a weeklong celebration that included lectures, performances, panel discussions and other celebratory events, with opportunities for the CSB/SJU campuses, the wider community, alumnae and colleagues in higher education to participate.

The theme Baenninger chose for the inauguration was inspired by a song written by Pete Seeger and movingly performed by the late blues singer Eva Cassidy. “Oh, Had I a Golden Thread” is a simple song that deals in profound themes – peace, love, transcendence and redemption. The design derived from an installation of panels – “Things behind the Sun” – by Elaine Rutherford, associate professor of art at CSB/SJU.