Scottish rites
Scholars and dignitaries flock to UALR chancellor’s investiture
University of Arkansas at Little Rock Chancellor Andrew Rogerson’s investiture involved a great deal of pomp and circumstance, as well as a seemingly endless string of academics and dignitaries draped in scholarly robes.
The May 11 afternoon event drew heads of colleges and universities from the UA system, as well as some who know Rogerson from his provost days at Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park, Calif. All came into the arena to a bagpiper who played The Flower of Scotland — Rogerson is Scottish — and left to Scotland the Brave/Rowan Tree. Guest speaker was Ruben Arminana, president emeritus at Sonoma State. The chancellor arrived at UALR last summer, and his first day in the chancellor’s seat was Sept. 1. The investiture made it all official.
“It’s just another day in the life of a chancellor,” Rogerson said jokingly amid all the attention. He was bestowed a medallion bearing the names of his nine predecessors.
Prior to the ceremony, a champagne reception was held in the Stephens Center’s Legends Room. Guests included plenty of his former colleagues and members of his family who came from across the country and around the globe to attend. They included Rogerson’s daughter, Zoe, of Santa Rosa, Calif.; sister Margot Birkmyre of Scotland; and niece Samantha Malone of Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada.