Sage inaugurates new prez

The Sage Colleges today inaugurated Dr. Christopher Ames as its 10th President. The Inauguration Ceremony was attended by more than 300 students, faculty, staff, and members of the board of trustees, as well as community leaders and political officials.

The event, held in the Schacht Fine Arts Center theater on the Russell Sage College campus in Troy, featured performances from The Sage Singers chorus and The Sagettes a capella group. Robert Earl Price, a poet and playwright, composed and recited “Chain of Change” specifically for the event.

“The Sage Colleges has seen its share of changes,” said Ames, referencing Sage’s founding as a women’s college (Russell Sage College), the addition of the co-educational Sage Junior College of Albany, which later became the four-year Sage College of Albany, and growth resulting in the Sage Graduate Schools offering master’s degrees and doctorate programs.

“What remains constant in our make-up is a dedication to liberal learning combined with the tools to apply that learning in the workplace and in active participation in democratic society,” he continued. “What also has endured is a sense of scale at Sage. Learning unfolds on a human scale through the interaction of teacher and student, and student and student. Our faculty are active scholars for whom teaching is a top priority.”

Patricia Timpano Sparrell RSC ’78, chair of Sage’s board of trustees, served as emcee and presented Ames with the President’s Medallion.

“I was introduced to Chris nearly one year ago,” stated Sparrell, who served as chair of the Presidential Search Committee. “On paper his credentials were very impressive. After meeting him in person, hearing his educational principles, and experiencing his practical wit — we knew we’d found the next president of The Sage Colleges.

A reception was held following the inauguration, and a lively calendar of special events is slated for next week, including a conference, “Creating a Culture of Mental Wellness for
Schools and Communities” on October 25 at Sage College of Albany and a poetry reading with Iris Cushing and Travis Macdonald on October 26 at Russell Sage College. Visit sage.edu/events for more information.

“I am energized by the possibilities ahead for Sage and heartened by the human strength of our resources: our accomplished and dedicated alums who have built profound Sage connections around the nation, our creative and caring faculty who ensure that we remain true to the ever-revolving nature of our disciplines and professions, our staff who express the commitment to every aspect of the collegiate experience, and our students who are excited to be a part of this community and who are eager to learn,” concluded Ames.

The inauguration was the latest in a series of positive developments at Sage. On October 13, the college announced that the recently concluded Centennial Campaign for Sage had raised more than $62 million, significantly surpassing its $50 million goal. On October 18, President Ames announced a new $1.2 million gift from Chet and Karen Opalka, to support exhibitions, programs and an endowment for the Opalka Gallery on the Sage College of Albany campus.

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