Athens State University will commemorate the new tenure of its new president next week with a series of inauguration events spanning multiple days and activities, while marking the occasion by stashing away some present-day artifacts that afford future generations the chance to reflect on its 2025 context.

One of next week’s inaugural ceremonies will unfold Thursday, April 24, when Athens State students and faculty will seal a time capsule that highlights a curated slice of contemporary life for future students to someday unearth. The time capsule ceremony will take place on Thursday from 3-3:30 p.m. at the Kares Library on the Athens State Campus.

Dr. Catherine Wehlburg will be inducted as the university’s new president next week, becoming the 39th Athens State president overall. Holding both a Ph.D. and an M.Ed. in Educational Psychology as well as a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Florida, Wehlburg “is known nationally for her scholarly and practical administrative work in teaching and learning and the assessment of learning outcomes,” the university states.

In her academic and leadership career,  Wehlburg “has been recognized for her work in student learning outcomes assessment by being elected president of the Association for the Assessment of Learning in Higher Education (AALHE) and has received their Outstanding Achievement Award,” the University adds. “She is currently Editor-in-Chief for the New Directions for Teaching and Learning (NDTL) series.”

The official investiture ceremony to induct Wehlburg as the university’s new president will be Friday, April 25 at a 10 a.m. invitational ceremony at Carter Hall. A reception will follow at the Sandridge Student Center Ballroom.

For complete information about the full slate of next week’s inaugural events at Athens State University, visit the president’s web page at athens.edu/about/offices/office-of-the-president and select “Inauguration” from the accompanying menu.