Representing Northwestern Near and Far
When Candy Deemer ’76, ’77 MS received an invitation to return to Northwestern University this summer, she knew it would be unlike any other trip she’s made back to the Evanston campus. Deemer eagerly rushed to tell her husband, Ken, the big news: that she would participate in the inauguration of Northwestern’s 17th president, Michael H. Schill.
“I was just super excited,” she says. “I said to my husband, ‘You’re coming with me! This is first and probably the only experience I will ever have to be in an inauguration ceremony at Northwestern, and I want you to be there.’”
Deemer has good reason to be so enthusiastic. As one of Northwestern’s Alumni Regents, she has had the privilege of attending two prior presidential inaugurations in her home region of Southern California: at Pepperdine University and San Diego State University, both in 2019. As a regent, Deemer is called upon to attend inaugurations at universities in her area, serving as an official representative of Northwestern.
The experience has been an honor and a joy, and each ceremony has been an inspiring spectacle. Deemer recalls proudly donning her purple regalia—which always stands out in a sea of black robes, she says—and taking her place in line alongside representatives from some of the most prestigious universities in the country to participate in the inaugural procession.
“When you are walking down the aisle,” she says, “you get goosebumps.”
Showing Up Strong
Alumni Regents are appointed by Northwestern’s president based on their stature in their communities and commitment to the University, and can serve for up to two four-year terms. During that time, they act as ambassadors for Northwestern and perform a variety of duties in engaging alumni in their region. One important function is their participation in presidential inaugurations.
As Bob Creamer ’63 sees it, the role simply makes sense. It wouldn’t be feasible for a university president or other leader to travel the country to attend inaugurations throughout the year. Designating local representatives gives Northwestern a chance to have a presence where it otherwise couldn’t—and that can make a big impression.
“We get a lot a points for showing up,” says Creamer, who since becoming an Alumni Regent has represented Northwestern at four inaugurations in his home state of Massachusetts: Brandeis University in 2016, Harvard University in 2018, and Clark University and Amherst College in 2022. At Harvard, Creamer found himself surrounded by hundreds of delegates from some of the most prestigious universities in the world. Other ceremonies have been more modest, but in all cases, Northwestern’s participation always stands out.
“Northwestern is held in such exceptionally high esteem in the academic community that our presence at these occasions is always noticed,” says Creamer, “and greatly appreciated.”
Meaningful Connections
What goes on behind the scenes at an inauguration may be just as important for Alumni Regents as the ceremony itself. Both before and after the festivities, regents have multiple opportunities to mingle with delegates from other institutions and the hosting university.
Creamer recalls some of his backstage interactions with a laugh. He’s been asked about Northwestern’s admissions policy (“That’s not my department!” he quips), has had a chance to educate others about the diversity of the University’s student population, and in one case was even mistaken for Northwestern’s president by an attendee who mistook the large medallion worn by Alumni Regents for the presidential chain of office.
Necole Merritt ’88 beams with enthusiasm as she recounts the array of people she’s met attending inaugurations in her Southeastern region at Vanderbilt University, Morehouse College, and Albany State University. When attending the inauguration of Vanderbilt’s Chancellor Daniel Diermeier in 2022, Merritt recalls meeting deans, faculty, and administrators, all of whom gave her an incredibly warm welcome. The most meaningful connection she made, however, was with the new chancellor himself.
Diermeier has plenty of history with Northwestern, having taught at the Kellogg School of Management from 1997 to 2014. When Merritt approached him and introduced herself, he was overjoyed to meet her. The two snapped selfies together and talked about their shared experiences in Evanston. “He was so incredibly gracious and so thankful that somebody was coming to represent Northwestern,” Merritt says, “because Northwestern had been such a special place for him.”
The warm reception she has received at the inaugurations she’s attended serves as an important reminder for Merritt, who like Deemer and Creamer will be proudly participating with fellow Alumni Regents in the inauguration of President Schill. This time, she says, it will be her turn to act as the hospitable host for visiting delegates. “It is almost like they are coming to your home, and you are welcoming them in and being an ambassador for them,” Merritt says.
As for Deemer, she cannot wait to walk into Ryan Fieldhouse on June 2. After hearing new leaders at other universities map out their priorities, Deemer is eager to hear from President Schill about his vision for Northwestern while taking in all the pomp and circumstance that the event has to offer.
“I always walk away from these inaugurations having learned something,” she says. “It is very much a bonding experience that gets you really excited about the future.”