Investiture Ceremony: Conferring the Knight Chair in Race and Journalism

Investiture Ceremony: Conferring the Knight Chair in Race and Journalism upon Nikole Hannah-Jones

Founders LibraryFriday, October 16, 2026Program Begins: 1:00 p.m.

Program

1:00 p.m. — Opening ProcessionFaculty, university leadership, platform party, and honoree Nikole Hannah-Jones1:05 p.m. — Welcome & Call to OrderInterim Provost & Chief Academic Officer1:10 p.m. — InvocationUniversity Chaplain or designee1:13 p.m. — Purpose of the Endowed ChairReflections on the Knight Chair and the importance of journalism, race, and truth-telling1:20 p.m. — Academic ReflectionScholar/journalist reflection on Hannah-Jones’ contributions and impact1:27 p.m. — Institutional ReflectionUniversity President or Interim President1:34 p.m. — Personal ReflectionFamily member, colleague, or close collaboratorInvestiture1:39 p.m. — Formal Conferral of the ChairProvost Williams1:44 p.m. — Presentation of Medallion & CitationDean of the School of Communications or designee1:49 p.m. — Investiture AddressNikole Hannah-JonesReflections on race, journalism, democracy, and the vision for the Knight Chair2:04 p.m. — Closing RemarksProvost Williams2:09 p.m. — Alma Mater2:12 p.m. — Recessional

Reception

2:15 p.m. — Reception Immediately Following

Designated reception area at Founders Library or nearby space. Light refreshments, photography, stakeholder engagement, and media availability, as applicable.