An Inaugural Moment with Andy Hamilton

Bringing to campus the solemnity, excitement and good cheer of his inauguration in New York as NYU’s 16th President, the NYU Shanghai community gathered on November 2 after classes to welcome Andrew Hamilton.

Following greetings from student, faculty  and staff representatives, Hamilton addressed the gathering and presented a seal of NYU before joining the presidents of Peking University and East China Normal University in a discussion about the future of higher education moderated by Vice Chancellor Lehman, who also served as the master of ceremony for the whole evening.

Addressing some 300 students, faculty, and staff in attendance, Hamilton shared his vision for all of NYU and its global network, as well as his faith in NYU Shanghai, pledging “to work using all of the tools that I have on its behalf...in anticipation of its very splendid future”.

Hamilton spoke of  NYU Shanghai’s many achievements in the past four years, and gave a shout out to the IMA students whose’ Violet Lights lit up Washington Square at his inauguration ceremony in New York. On a lighter note,  he recalled his own experience of some of campus’ own cultural traditions like the annual dumpling festival he attended last year.  He said each visit deepens his admiration for the NYU Shanghai community.

“NYU Shanghai is a very special part of the NYU community,” said Hamilton. “And what distinguishes NYU from other renowned universities is our focus on the future and our boldness to take risks to shape that future.”

“In the near term, our focus should be less on further expansion and more on reaching the full potential of the exceptional global enterprise NYU has already built, guided always by the goals of enhancing our students’ education and serving our faculty’s scholarly interests,” Hamilton said, listing key priorities such as strengthening scientific and technological fields, improving equity, diversity, inclusion and multiculturalism in classrooms, and maintaining affordability and sustainability.

In his welcome message, Chancellor Yu Lizhong said the gathering at NYU Shanghai continued the heartfelt celebration of Hamilton’s inauguration across NYU global network, adding that NYU Shanghai’s long term development goals resonate well with “Andy’s calls” outlined in his inauguration speech on Sept 25.

Noting NYU Shanghai’s first graduation next May, Chancellor Yu added that, “NYU Shanghai, with its double identity and unique status as the first joint Sino-US university, needs to think together with the rest of  the NYU community, boldly and creatively, on how to take advantage of opportunities and tackle challenges in the coming years.”

Speaking on behalf of students and faculty, Student Body President Lyndsey Qu and Faculty Council Chair Prof. Duane Corpis welcomed President Hamilton, who then presented to Chancellor Yu and Vice Chancellor Lehman a beautifully cut  official seal of NYU. Diane Geng, Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs at NYU Shanghai, who was given NYU’s first-ever “Making a Difference” awards for her work to promote rural education in China, introduced President Hamilton before his speech. Highlights of the evening also included a gigantic surprise  birthday cake Vice Chancellor Lehman presented to President Hamilton, which was then shared by the crowd who serenaded him with joyous wishes of a happy birthday.

During the roundtable session, the three university presidents, all fellow chemists, discussed a series of pressing questions fielded by Lehman about the future of higher education, and the extent to which  universities should adapt teaching and research to contemporary conditions.

When asked about the future of higher education, President Lin of Peking University said: “As the world becomes smaller, we need to focus more on global research, and NYU Shanghai provides a very good research platform for faculty.”

“Higher education institutions today should focus more on collaboration, student exchanges and joint research ventures to improve understanding among different cultures, and less on competition or university rankings,” said President Chen of ECNU on how universities should interact with each other.