Marietta College plans homecoming, State of the College address
Trending
MARIETTA -- Marietta College President Kathleen Poorman Dougherty will deliver a State of the College address and announce plans for the institution's future Friday as part of homecoming weekend.
The address, titled "More History to Make," is scheduled for 4 p.m. Oct. 16 on Fenton Court in the Dyson Baudo Recreation Center. It is free and open to the public.
Dougherty will discuss strategic initiatives, campus improvements, student success and regional partnerships. The college said she also will make an announcement about its future but did not provide details in a news release.
"Marietta College's future is rooted in the strength of our community and the generations of students, alumni and friends who have shaped this institution," Dougherty said in the release. "As we honor that legacy, we are embracing new opportunities to grow, serve our region and create an even brighter future for those who will follow."
According to the college, it received a record $19.3 million in cash gifts during fiscal year 2026 and earned reaffirmation of its accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission through 2035-36.
The college also launched its first online and low-residency graduate programs, along with the Center for Appalachian Innovation and the Center for Earth, Energy and Environment. The initiatives were part of the first year of its strategic plan, also titled "More History to Make."
Homecoming activities run Oct. 15-18 under the theme "Pioneer Eras," highlighting different decades of the college's history.
The schedule includes campus tours, fraternity and sorority receptions, opportunities to meet current students, athletic competitions, a drone photography exhibition and theater productions. The Michael Weber Show and Friends will perform Friday night, featuring music spanning the 1950s through the 1990s.
Class reunions will take place throughout the weekend, including the Class of 1976's 50th reunion.
A Saturday afternoon program at the Dr. Barbara Diggs Lyles house will recognize Charles Sumner Harrison, the college's first Black graduate, and Barbara Diggs Lyles, its first Black woman graduate. The program will explore the social conditions they faced and their continuing influence on students.
The Marietta College Alumni Association also will recognize alumni for their service and achievements. David M. Rickey, Class of 1978, and Jo Ellen Diehl Yeary, Class of 1976, will be inducted into the Hall of Honors.
Derek Hennen and Meredith Storey, both members of the Class of 2012, will receive outstanding alumni recognition. Jim Buckwell, Class of 1961, and Brittany Metcalf, Class of 2013, will receive the Liz Tribett Service Award.
The McDonough Leadership program will mark its 40th anniversary Saturday evening.
A full schedule and advance registration are available at marietta.edu/alumni/homecoming. Attendees also may register at the Hermann Fine Arts Center lobby during homecoming. For more information, contact the Office of Alumni Engagement at alumni@marietta.edu.