Marietta College inaugurated its 21st president last week, with Dr. Kathleen Poorman Dougherty taking the helm at the nearly 200-year-old institution.

The weight of time does not seem to be a burden to Dougherty, however, as those in attendance noted she does not fall prey to the tendency of those in academia to move at a snail’s pace.

“She has a plan for executing initiatives with a level of speed that’s often missing in academia,” said Staff Council Chair and head soccer coach Joe Bergin.

Good. It’s never good for an institution of higher learning to be stuck in the past, and it seems as though Dougherty intends to ensure that doesn’t happen.

“Dr. Dougherty’s journey reflects the very ideals of Marietta College – intellectual curiosity, moral integrity, and a steadfast belief in the transformative power of a liberal arts education,” said Provost and Dean of the Faculty Suzanne Walker. “Her leadership is not simply about maintaining tradition, but about bringing to fruition the vision that we have more history to make.”

What a fantastic reminder. Marietta College is more than what it has been; with Dougherty at the helm, who knows what more it could be?

“Today’s inauguration is more than a campus ceremony – it’s a moment of statewide importance,” said state Sen. Brian Chavez, R-30th Dist. “When institutions like Marietta College thrive, all of Ohio benefits.”

Certainly, Marietta will benefit.

So, as we celebrate those possibilities, we join those welcoming Dougherty to her new post and look forward to seeing what comes next.