Ian B. Baucom Inaugurated as 18th President of Middlebury College

Ian B. Baucom was installed as the 18th president of Middlebury College on November 2 at an inauguration ceremony at Virtue Field House marking the beginning of a new era—one day after the 225th anniversary of the College’s founding.  

More than 500 faculty, staff, students, community members, and delegates from 35 colleges and universities attended the culminating event of a three-day celebration of academics, arts, and community honoring the College’s new president. They stood and cheered as Baucom took the lectern for his inaugural address after being formally installed by William F. Truscott ’83, chair of the Middlebury Board of Trustees.

“If you remember one thing from these remarks, this is it: I am, profoundly, a beneficiary of the American project of democratic education,” he said. “It changed my parents’ lives. It changed my life. I believe in it, and as president I will fight for it—and for every student whose lives we can help open.”

Baucom drew parallels between his own journey and that of the College, beginning with its failure to earn a charter from the Vermont State Legislature until its third attempt in 1800. He recounted a series of historical moments that shaped the College, leading to his inauguration—a moment he described as a “celebration of Middlebury: who we have been, who we are, who we can become, and what we are for.”

Baucom spoke passionately about Middlebury being “for the life-transforming power of the liberal arts, the advance of knowledge, and the flourishing of young lives.” He said the College is also for freedom of expression; academic freedom; the power of reason, evidence, science, and art; and the realization “that democracy needs colleges and universities to thrive,” among other beliefs encapsulated in the College motto, Scientia et Virtus (Knowledge and Virtue). 

Baucom shared a recent announcement that the College community will embark on a new strategic planning process focused on the question: What is Middlebury for?—not just higher education or the liberal arts in general, but Middlebury in particular.

James E. Ryan, former president and current professor of law and education at the University of Virginia, where Baucom served as provost, called his friend and colleague a principled leader with the necessary skills to be a successful president.

“Presidents play many roles, as you know: leader, manager, visionary, realist, strategist, fundraiser, cheerleader, consoler, mayor,” said Ryan. “Based on the nearly seven years we worked closely together, I can say with complete confidence that Ian Baucom will excel in all of these roles. You are fortunate to have him, as he is fortunate to have found all of you. Indeed, it is hard for me to imagine a better match of person, place, and time.”

A Celebration of Middlebury

The inauguration weekend of events included music, theater, an open house at the Davis Family Library Special Collections, a poster fair highlighting faculty and student research projects, a celebration of the arts at the Mahaney Arts Center, and academic roundtables. 

Baucom moderated the opening roundtables featuring Middlebury scholars, beginning with “Cultivating Democratic Citizens—Pedagogy, Character, and Critical Capacities,” followed by “Contested Legacies and Institutional Responsibilities—Power, Knowledge, and Democratic Purpose.” Bill McKibben, Schumann Distinguished Scholar in Environmental Studies, moderated the third roundtable “Leading Through Action and Connection—Climate Responsibility as Liberal Arts Practice.”

The community was invited to a series of meet-and-greet events with Baucom, his wife Wendy, and their family, including a Halloween celebration at College Park in downtown Middlebury. Students met with Baucom over lunch and at a four-course gourmet dinner prepared by Dolci—Middlebury’s student-run gourmet dining club.

Music played a prominent role in the inauguration festivities. Damascus Kafumbe, Edward C. Knox Professor of International Studies and professor of music, directed the opening processional and a performance of “Malaika” sung by Adonai Haile ’27. The Middlebury Afropop Band performed throughout the weekend. Kafumbe also sang “Twala Obulamu Bwange” (Take Charge of My Life), a song he wrote, while playing the Adungu. The Middlebury College Choir, directed by Jeffrey Buettner, Christian A. Johnson Professor of Music, performed “A Song of Joys” by Nick Omiccioli with text from “Leaves of Grass” by Walt Whitman.

Inauguration Day 

On Sunday, the opening procession entered Virtue Field House to the sounds of Bob Marley and the Wailers’ “Waiting in Vain” performed by the Afropop Band. Following opening remarks from Michelle McCauley, executive vice president and provost, Mark Orten, dean of spiritual and religious life and director of the Scott Center, delivered the invocation. Zaraha Moeini Meybodi, associate Muslim chaplain and interfaith advisor, offered a land acknowledgment, followed by student speakers Sarina Chitkara ’25.5 and Anina Kim Dentel-Pham ’27.

Special guest speakers included Julia Alvarez ’71, writer in residence emerita; Bettina Matthias, Maurice R. Greenberg, professor of language and linguistics and chair of the German Department; Dima Ayou, associate professor of Arabic and department chair; and representatives from the Student Government Association, Facilities Services, the Town of Middlebury, the Middlebury Alumni Association, and Middlebury College Athletics also addressed the audience.

“I’ve had a long relationship with the College at every level of engagement,” said Alvarez, “and during those 56 years if you had asked me what is Middlebury for, I might have given you that moment’s version of the deeper waters that lie beneath the surface currents, which I call a deeper river. Middlebury has been my alma mater. Not just the college I graduated from, but literally the mother of my soul. I know soul might be a throw-back term as we look to the future, but it underlies everything else: the source that feeds us, allows us to grow, and become the larger version of ourselves.” 

Ryan referred to Baucom throughout his talk as an exceptional teacher who taught him critical lessons about life, leadership, and the importance of sticking to one’s principles when having to make difficult decisions.

“Ian Baucom will be an outstanding and outstandingly principled president,” said Ryan. “He will also be a beloved teacher. Like any good teacher, Ian will not be perfect and will make mistakes. Like the very best teachers, he will welcome constructive disagreement, and he will never stop learning from all of you. He will be a president you will absolutely want to pay attention to, especially as he teaches by example.”

Baucom began his talk by asking for a moment of stillness in remembrance of student Lia Smith, who died unexpectedly on October 17. “I want to pause to remember a member of our greater Middlebury family who is not with us in person but is with us in our hearts, our sorrow, and our love.”

Baucom concluded his address by promising to represent the entire Middlebury community while standing for everything it decides it’s for.

“Let me end with one last thing that I am for,” said Baucom. “I am for the commitment that I have not come to Middlebury to be the President. I have come to be your president… on sweet days and hard days… and around the globe as the town’s college becomes ever more the world’s college, and the planet’s college, and the college of every student, faculty and staff member coming to join us and re-invent us, animated at our core by our free pursuit of knowledge together. On all those days, Wendy and I, and all our family, have come to join this family and join our lives with you.”

Appointed to the Middlebury presidency by the Board of Trustees in January 2025, Baucom succeeded Laurie L. Patton, whom he praised during his address. His tenure started on July 1, 2025, after serving as executive vice president and provost and as the Robert C. Taylor Professor of English at the University of Virginia. He established himself as a widely regarded leader in higher education throughout his path to the presidency, sharing this video message remarks on his first day in office.