{"id":2676,"date":"2025-12-19T15:53:16","date_gmt":"2025-12-19T15:53:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/?page_id=2676"},"modified":"2026-01-16T23:41:13","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T23:41:13","slug":"inauguration-overview","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/inauguration-overview\/","title":{"rendered":"WestConn10 Inauguration Overview"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"2676\" class=\"elementor elementor-2676\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0a05a67 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"0a05a67\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-49b213c elementor-widget__width-inherit elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"49b213c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"434\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/91\/2025\/12\/Web-header-longer-1024x434.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-2612\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/91\/2025\/12\/Web-header-longer-1024x434.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/91\/2025\/12\/Web-header-longer-300x127.png 300w, https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/91\/2025\/12\/Web-header-longer-768x326.png 768w, https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/91\/2025\/12\/Web-header-longer-1536x652.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/91\/2025\/12\/Web-header-longer.png 1584w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c557645 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"c557645\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f44dfbb elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f44dfbb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Inauguration of the 10th President: Dr. Jesse M. Bernal<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-74f67d4 e-grid e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"74f67d4\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-29bc5f6 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"29bc5f6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<table style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse;\"><tbody><tr><td style=\"width: 100%;\"><p>An inauguration marks the formal beginning of a presidency, but its deeper purpose is to <strong data-start=\"164\" data-end=\"175\">welcome<\/strong> our community together, <strong data-start=\"200\" data-end=\"209\">weave<\/strong> our shared strengths, and <strong data-start=\"236\" data-end=\"245\">widen<\/strong> the opportunities ahead. At WestConn, the celebration will be funded entirely through sponsorships and philanthropy, and Dr. Bernal has committed to raising or matching every philanthropic dollar to support student scholarships. His vision reflects our theme\u2014<strong data-start=\"501\" data-end=\"548\">Weaving our strengths. Building our future.<\/strong>\u2014by expanding opportunity, strengthening regional partnerships, and ensuring every learner can thrive.<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td style=\"width: 100%; text-align: center;\"><h4><strong>Investiture Ceremony<\/strong><\/h4><h4><strong>March 27, 2026 | 2<\/strong><strong>:00 P.M.<\/strong><\/h4><h4><b>Visual &amp; Performing Arts Center | Westside<\/b><\/h4><h4><strong><span style=\"background-color: transparent;\">Danbury, Connecticut<\/span><\/strong><\/h4><\/td><\/tr><tr><td style=\"width: 100%;\"><h5 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/president-bernals-biography\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Learn more about President Bernal<\/a><\/strong><\/h5><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\">Learn more about WestConn<\/a><\/strong><\/div><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><p style=\"text-align: center;\">\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c64bcc1 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"c64bcc1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/91\/2025\/12\/Bernal-Headshot10.svg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-2601\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8eaa865 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"8eaa865\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3cb588c elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"3cb588c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-40e01b6 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"40e01b6\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6575985 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6575985\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Thank you for your interest in the Inauguration of Dr. Jesse M. Bernal, 10th President at Western Connecticut State University. Additional details will be shared as plans are finalized. If you would like to receive updates and further information, please complete the form below.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a976994 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"a976994\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-77bc4b8 elementor-button-align-start elementor-widget elementor-widget-form\" data-id=\"77bc4b8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;step_next_label&quot;:&quot;Next&quot;,&quot;step_previous_label&quot;:&quot;Previous&quot;,&quot;button_width&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;step_type&quot;:&quot;number_text&quot;,&quot;step_icon_shape&quot;:&quot;circle&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"form.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<form class=\"elementor-form\" method=\"post\" id=\"InaugurationInterestForm\" name=\"Inauguration Interest Form\" aria-label=\"Inauguration Interest Form\">\n\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"post_id\" value=\"2676\"\/>\n\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"form_id\" value=\"77bc4b8\"\/>\n\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"referer_title\" value=\"WestConn10 Inauguration Overview | Office of the President\" \/>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"queried_id\" value=\"2676\"\/>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-form-fields-wrapper elementor-labels-above\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-field-type-text elementor-field-group elementor-column elementor-field-group-name elementor-col-50 elementor-field-required\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<label for=\"form-field-name\" class=\"elementor-field-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFirst Name\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<input size=\"1\" type=\"text\" name=\"form_fields[name]\" id=\"form-field-name\" class=\"elementor-field elementor-size-md  elementor-field-textual\" placeholder=\"First Name\" required=\"required\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-field-type-text elementor-field-group elementor-column elementor-field-group-field_2c52ed6 elementor-col-50\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<label for=\"form-field-field_2c52ed6\" class=\"elementor-field-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLast Name\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<input size=\"1\" type=\"text\" name=\"form_fields[field_2c52ed6]\" id=\"form-field-field_2c52ed6\" class=\"elementor-field elementor-size-md  elementor-field-textual\" placeholder=\"Last Name\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-field-type-email elementor-field-group elementor-column elementor-field-group-email elementor-col-50 elementor-field-required\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<label for=\"form-field-email\" class=\"elementor-field-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEmail\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<input size=\"1\" type=\"email\" name=\"form_fields[email]\" id=\"form-field-email\" class=\"elementor-field elementor-size-md  elementor-field-textual\" placeholder=\"Email\" required=\"required\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-field-type-text elementor-field-group elementor-column elementor-field-group-field_5535a7a elementor-col-50\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<label for=\"form-field-field_5535a7a\" class=\"elementor-field-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPhone\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<input size=\"1\" type=\"text\" name=\"form_fields[field_5535a7a]\" id=\"form-field-field_5535a7a\" class=\"elementor-field elementor-size-md  elementor-field-textual\" placeholder=\"Phone\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-field-type-select elementor-field-group elementor-column elementor-field-group-message elementor-col-25 elementor-field-type-select-multiple elementor-field-required\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<label for=\"form-field-message\" class=\"elementor-field-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAffiliation (Mark all)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-field elementor-select-wrapper remove-before \">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"select-caret-down-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<select name=\"form_fields[message][]\" id=\"form-field-message\" class=\"elementor-field-textual elementor-size-md\" required=\"required\" multiple=\"\" size=\"4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"student\">student<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"faculty\">faculty<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"staff\">staff<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"emeritus\">emeritus<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"retiree\">retiree<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"alumni\">alumni<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"community member\">community member<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"elected official\">elected official<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"institutional president or representative\">institutional president or representative<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"family\">family<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"friend\">friend<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"other\">other<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/select>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-field-type-text elementor-field-group elementor-column elementor-field-group-field_bd2c97a elementor-col-25\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<label for=\"form-field-field_bd2c97a\" class=\"elementor-field-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOrganization\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<input size=\"1\" type=\"text\" name=\"form_fields[field_bd2c97a]\" id=\"form-field-field_bd2c97a\" class=\"elementor-field elementor-size-md  elementor-field-textual\" placeholder=\"Organization (if not WCSU)\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-field-type-text elementor-field-group elementor-column elementor-field-group-field_987e619 elementor-col-50\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<label for=\"form-field-field_987e619\" class=\"elementor-field-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOther Affiliation Notes\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<input size=\"1\" type=\"text\" name=\"form_fields[field_987e619]\" id=\"form-field-field_987e619\" class=\"elementor-field elementor-size-md  elementor-field-textual\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-field-type-textarea elementor-field-group elementor-column elementor-field-group-field_ea363c7 elementor-col-100\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<label for=\"form-field-field_ea363c7\" class=\"elementor-field-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tQuestions\/Comments\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<textarea class=\"elementor-field-textual elementor-field  elementor-size-md\" name=\"form_fields[field_ea363c7]\" id=\"form-field-field_ea363c7\" rows=\"2\"><\/textarea>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-field-group elementor-column elementor-field-type-submit elementor-col-100 e-form__buttons\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"elementor-button elementor-size-sm\" type=\"submit\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Submit Interest Form<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/form>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7c04854 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7c04854\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Inauguration Interest Form\u200b<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f962db1 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"f962db1\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e496b77 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e496b77\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Please contact <a href=\"mailto:president@wcsu.edu\">president@wcsu.edu<\/a> if you have questions.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Inauguration of the 10th President: Dr. Jesse M. Bernal An inauguration marks the formal beginning of a presidency, but its deeper purpose is to welcome our community together, weave our shared strengths, and widen the opportunities ahead. At WestConn, the &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":429,"featured_media":2515,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"full-width.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2676","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2676","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/429"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2676"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2676\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2515"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2676"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}