On Friday, September 5, 2025, the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) celebrated the inauguration of Charles T. Nies, PhD, as the University’s tenth chancellor.

The inauguration ceremony took place in the Marshall Performing Arts Center at UMD. Presided by Rebecca Ropers, provost for UMD, the formal event hosted hundreds in the audience, with a special appearance by U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, keynote speaker Lande Ajose, managing director of the Waverly Street Foundation; and remarks from University of Minnesota President Rebecca Cunningham; Kim Dauner, faculty senate chair and professor of Health Care Management at UMD, Remi Foust, president of UMD’s Student Government Association; and Douglas Huebsch, chair of the University of Minnesota Board of Regents.

The event celebrated the institution’s 130-year history and some of the recent milestones, which many speakers highlighted in their remarks, including the new four-year medical school program in the University of Minnesota Medical School’s Duluth campus, UMD’s largest incoming class in recent years, and research discoveries like Ship Goo 001.

A community celebration was held afterward in Romano Gymnasium, featuring live entertainment, interactive stations, light refreshments, and photo opportunities.

“We are a thriving public research university, rooted in the curiosity of our students, staff, and faculty, the strengths of our people and our place, and the commitment of so many to work with each other towards the betterment of our region and our state," Provost Ropers said in her opening remarks.

She introduced special guests, including U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, whose remarks included her connection to education and industry in northern Minnesota, and emphasis on the importance of UMD to the region and beyond.

“Because of education, I stand before you as the granddaughter of an iron ore miner and the daughter of a teacher and a newspaper man, and the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate from the state of Minnesota," Senator Klobuchar said. "We celebrate this incredible university. We celebrate the leader who will guide it."

Lande Ajose, a long-time colleague of Chancellor Nies, presented the keynote address, where she emphasized the importance of higher education, as well as Chancellor Nies’ character, history, and humble nature. “On this historic occasion, we gather to celebrate this extraordinary community, this remarkable institution, and though he may wish to underplay it, the inauguration of Dr. Charles Nies," Ajose said. "His deep and abiding commitment to students, his desire to make sure that students succeed, and to make sure that the student experience is one where students emerge from college ready to take on the world.”

Before making the formal pronouncement of Charles T. Nies, PhD, as Chancellor, President Cunningham shared some of her experiences at UMD and with Nies. She emphasized the importance of UMD within the state as an integral campus of the University of Minnesota.

“The intertwined nature of education, discovery, and community engagement is part of the magic of the University of Minnesota Duluth,” President Cunningham said. “And we now formally welcome a new leader, Chancellor Nies, who has already shown his understanding and commitment to this unique place and opportunity.”

Chancellor Nies was presented with the mace and medallion, traditional academic emblems of leadership, before sharing his own remarks, and a closing by Remi Foust, student body president, the singing of the alma mater, and a rousing recessional with UMD Cheerleaders, UMD Dance, Marching Band, and mascot Champ.

As the UMD campus prepared for these events, faculty, staff, and guests shared their vision for higher education in two panel events. The first was called Imagining Our Future: Ten Takes, where in a series of TED-style talks sponsored by the faculty senate, faculty and staff discussed topics including food justice, compassionate robots, artificial intelligence, political motivations, and beyond.

The second panel, The Future of Higher Education, was a dynamic discussion where distinguished leaders explored pressing challenges and emerging trends shaping the future of higher education. Chancellor Nies moderated the conversation, and was joined by President Cunningham; Lande Ajose, and Jillian Kinzie, associate director of the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), the Center for Postsecondary Research, and the Indiana University School of Education.

More information, including links to these events as well as the full inauguration livestream recording, can be found on UMD’s inauguration website.

Image: Students paint a group mural at the community celebration following the inauguration ceremony. 
Header Image: UMD Chancellor Charles Nies shakes hands with University of Minnesota President Rebecca Cunningham during Nies’ inauguration ceremony on September 5, 2025. Credit: University of Minnesota Duluth