An inauguration ceremony to install Deborah Casey, Ph.D., as president of Wor-Wic Community College will take place at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center in Salisbury on Friday, Sept. 20, at 10 a.m. The event will cap off several weeks of celebration at the college.
“It is an honor to be inaugurated as the president of Wor-Wic. The investiture and its surrounding events will reaffirm our commitment to serving and uplifting our communities,” Casey said. “We are doing exciting and innovative work at the college, and this will be a wonderful opportunity for everyone in the counties we serve to see the talent, skill and potential our community college has to offer. Together, we will celebrate and continue the journey of visioning our future. Go Fins!”
Casey was named as president by the Wor-Wic board of trustees after a national search. She previously spent 17 years as vice president of student affairs at Green River College in Auburn, Wash. She started as president of Wor-Wic in August 2023. Presidential inaugurations are significant occasions in academia, especially at Wor-Wic, where Casey is only the third leader in its history to hold the title. An inauguration is a time for a college to contemplate and communicate its shared mission and values.
The inauguration will feature notable speakers, including faculty, students and local dignitaries and partners, as well as higher education experts such as:
- Dr. Brad Phillips, executive director of the Maryland Association of Community Colleges
- Dr. Sanjay Rai, secretary of education, Maryland Higher Education Commission
- Dr. Karen Stout, president and CEO of Achieving the Dream, a national nonprofit dedicated to helping community college students succeed.
- Josh Wyner, vice president of the Aspen Institute, an international nonprofit, and executive director of the College Excellence Program at the Aspen Institute.
In addition to the Sept. 20 investiture, there will be service events for students and staff in partnership with Diakonia, the Blood Bank of Delmarva, Wicomico County Habitat for Humanity, the Maryland Folk Fest and an Ocean City beach cleanup. Public events will include:
- Food Drive, week of Sept. 16: All are welcome to contribute non-perishable items to replenish the college’s food pantry. Bins will be available throughout campus.
- Blood Drive, Monday, Sept. 16, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.: Stop by the Hazel Center on the college campus and help address the critical blood shortage in our community.
- STEAMposium, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 5-7 p.m.: Students and faculty will share presentations in the sciences and arts in the Dr. Ray Hoy Assembly Hall in Guerrieri Hall on the college campus.
- Community Arts Showcase of Excellence, Thursday, Sept. 19, 5-7:30 p.m.: A dazzling array of artists and performers will be in the spotlight, including Bryan Collier, a nationally acclaimed illustrator who has earned four Caldecott Honors. The college’s Hazel Center will be transformed into a gallery space for artists such as Patrick Henry, Erick Sahler, Diontraye Bratten, Rich Smoker and many more. In the Dr. Ray Hoy Assembly Hall in Guerrieri Hall, there will be a diverse selection of performances, including the Eastern Shore Ballet Theatre, the Heart & Sole Step Team and many more.
Visit www.worwic.edu/inauguration for more details on the events.