UC Riverside Chancellor S. Jack Hu, who took office in July, was officially inaugurated as the campus’s 10th chancellor Thursday, Feb. 5 at a ceremony where he celebrated the university’s past and shared his vision for its future.
In an inaugural address delivered to family, friends, the UCR campus community, and local and state dignitaries at the University Theatre, Hu expressed his gratitude for the welcome he’s received since he began his new role.
Hu, dressed in a blue robe, described UCR as standing at a defining moment. He noted how the university is now a globally recognized research university, a national leader in social mobility, and an anchor institution in a fast-growing region.
“Our task now is to carry forward the spirt that built this university – a spirit that says every student, every family, every community in Inland Southern California has a stake in our success,” he said.
“Our vision is this: UC Riverside will be the nation’s model for an inclusive, innovation-driven public research university – where excellence and social mobility advance together, and where discoveries, talent, and opportunity transform Inland Southern California and the world.”
Hu laid out five commitments to bring that vision to life: ensuring student success and social mobility; growing mission-driven research and innovation; expanding UCR Health; deepening partnerships to power the economic and cultural future of the Inland region; and building a shared future by investing in its people.
The afternoon ceremony began with an academic procession from the Barn to the University Theatre, with Hu and other campus leaders and guests dressed in full academic regalia. They took the stage accompanied by bagpipes and drums performed by the UCR Pipe Band.
UC President James Milliken, in his first visit to UCR since he took office in August, formally installed Hu as chancellor, placing the Chancellor’s Medal around Hu’s neck.
The medal, featuring the UC seal at the center and the names of the campus’s chancellors and the year they were inaugurated on the back, is handed down from one chancellor to another with a second personal medal given to each one as they begin their tenure.
Milliken described Hu’s career as one committed to research, teaching, and public service with a personal understanding of the value of social mobility. He called UCR’s No. 1 ranking in social mobility for five out of seven years a dynasty.
“It’s no coincidence that this way of seeing the world has led Chancellor Hu to Riverside,” Milliken said.
Janet Reilly, chair of the UC Regents, provided welcoming remarks, describing Hu as someone who has prepared for this moment throughout his career and life – as an immigrant who came to the U.S. to study engineering.
“Dr. Hu’s values – his deep commitment to access, excellence, and public impact – are perfectly matched with UCR’s public mission,” she said. “And that mission has never been more important than it is right now. And, with Chancellor Hu at the helm, I know UCR will rise to meet the moment with renewed vision and purpose.”
The ceremony, which was livestreamed and available to rewatch on YouTube, also included remarks from faculty, staff, student, alumni, and community members, and former colleagues of Hu’s from the University of Georgia and University of Michigan.
Ken Barish, chair of the Academic Senate, joked that in the search for a new chancellor the Academic Senate was looking for a superhero. With Hu, they found a leader who not only met the rigorous criteria but brought a “collaborative spirit necessary to lead this vibrant community.”
A video preceding Hu’s speech traced UCR’s history from its start as a Citrus Experiment Station in 1910 to its 1954 founding and spotlighted past campus leaders, whose ranks Hu now joins.
Afterward, the festivities continued with an outdoor celebration and reception with student musical and dance performances and food and drink served to guests.
