On February 6-7, 2003, John V. Lombardi will be inaugurated chancellor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Academic symposia, a gala dinner, and the inauguration ceremony itself will celebrate the campus’s new leadership. The ceremonial and academic events will showcase the accomplishments of faculty and students, and provide an opportunity to recognize Chancellor Lombardi for his commitment to competitive excellence as it coincides with the tradition of academic achievement that is the hallmark of the University’s flagship campus. The inaugural events will help to enhance the image of the campus, to engage supporters, and position UMass Amherst to take the next steps in garnering outside resources. The celebration will also serve to affirm the role of the University in the lives of all citizens of the Commonwealth, and the importance of research universities in the nation’s economic, social, and cultural development.