President Cole Honored by University of Graz

Montclair State University President Susan A. Cole was awarded the title “Honorary Senator of the University of Graz” at a ceremony on April 17 held in her honor at the University of Graz, Austria.

With University of Graz Rector Christa Neuper presiding, the ceremony was attended by City of Graz Mayor Siegfried Nagl, guests and members of the faculty and administration of both the University of Graz and Montclair State University.

The mayor, along with Karl Lohner, vice dean of the faculty of natural sciences, and Roberta Maierhofer, director of the Center for Inter-American Studies, were among the dignitaries offering words of welcome and congratulations on behalf of the Austrian university.

Accompanied by musical selections performed by the KUG Brass Quintet, Neuper awarded the “Honorary Senator of the University of Graz” title to President Cole. “I am very impressed by this beautiful ceremony,” said Cole, “and greatly honored by this affiliation that you have given me to this historic university.”

In her acceptance remarks, Cole stressed the importance of education to the practice of citizenship in an open and diverse society, and how it was vital that universities engage with the world.

“As universities, we cannot fulfill our mission if we remain ensconced behind the walls of our institution or the boundaries of our nation,” she said. “We must forge an organic engagement with the larger society that we serve, and, in today’s world, that larger society is, in fact, the whole world, and it is why the partnership between our two universities is so important.”

Concluding her remarks, Cole said, “And so, in hope for a future of meaningful accomplishes by both of my universities, I accept your appointment of me as Honorary Senator of the University of Graz, and I thank you most sincerely for this honor.”