Inauguration Ceremony Program

Processional

Chief Marshall

Convocations Marshall

Caltech Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients and Caltech Alumni Association Representatives

Delegates from Academic Institutions and Learned Societies

The Students

The Faculty and the Chairs of the Divisions

Nobel and Crafoord Laureates

The Platform Party

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Program

Organ Prelude

Processional

Ceremony Opening

Board Welcome

Greetings from the Institute

Introduction of Invited Speakers

Invited Speakers

Musical Selection

Investiture of the President

Introduction of President Jayawardhana

Inaugural Address

Alma Mater

Recessional

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Ray Jayawardhana

Ray Jayawardhana is a renowned astrophysicist whose research explores the origin and evolution of planetary systems as well as the formation of stars and brown dwarfs. His group uses the largest telescopes on the ground and in space to do remote sensing of exoplanets, with a view to investigating prospects for life in the universe. He is a science team member for the James Webb Space Telescope's Near-Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph (NIRISS) instrument, and his group has led Gemini Observatory large programs on high-resolution spectroscopy of exoplanet atmospheres. A prolific researcher, he has co-authored more than 180 scientific papers.

Jayawardhana is also an award-winning author of popular science books and a children's book, and more than 120 of his articles have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Economist, and other prominent outlets. He has received numerous accolades, including the Guggenheim Fellowship, Radcliffe Fellowship, and Carl Sagan Medal. Asteroid 4668 Rayjay is named after him. An avid traveler, he has visited more than 60 countries, all seven continents, and the Arctic.

Prior to joining Caltech, Jayawardhana served as provost of Johns Hopkins University and professor of physics and astronomy. As provost, he advanced the university's research, education, and outreach missions, overseeing its 10 schools and numerous interdisciplinary programs and support functions. Previously, Jayawardhana served as the Harold Tanner Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and the Hans A. Bethe Professor at Cornell University.

Jacqueline K. Barton

Jacqueline K. Barton is the John G. Kirkwood and Arthur A. Noyes Professor of Chemistry, Emerita, at Caltech. Barton was awarded an A.B. at Barnard College in 1974 and a PhD in Inorganic Chemistry at Columbia University in 1978. After a postdoctoral fellowship at Bell Laboratories and Yale University, she became an assistant professor at Hunter College, City University of New York. Soon after, she returned to Columbia University, becoming a professor of chemistry in 1986. In 1989, she joined the faculty at Caltech, and from 2009–2019, she served as chair of the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering.

Barton has pioneered the application of transition metal complexes to probe recognition and reactions of DNA. She has carried out studies to elucidate electron transfer chemistry through the DNA double helix, a basis for understanding long-range DNA-mediated signaling in DNA damage, repair, and replication.

Barton's awards include the American Chemical Society (ACS) Award in Pure Chemistry, a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship, and the Welch Award in Chemistry. She has been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Medicine, and the American Philosophical Society, where she currently serves as a vice president. Barton received the 2010 National Medal of Science, and the 2015 ACS Priestley Medal, the highest award of the ACS.

Peter B. Dervan

Peter Dervan is a Bren Professor, Emeritus, at Caltech. He obtained his PhD in 1972 at Yale University. After postdoctoral research at Stanford University, Dervan moved to Pasadena in 1973 as assistant professor at Caltech. Dervan was promoted to associate professor in 1979, professor in 1982, and Bren Professor in 1988. He served as chair of the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering from 1994 to 1999.

Dervan received the 2006 National Medal of Science from President George W. Bush "for his fundamental research contributions at the interface of chemistry and biology and his influence in education and industrial innovation." Other awards include the American Chemical Society (ACS) Arthur C. Cope Award (1993), Willard Gibbs Medal (1993), Nichols Medal (1994), Kirkwood Medal (1998), ACS Alfred Bader Award (1999), Linus Pauling Medal (1999), Richard C. Tolman Medal (1999), Tetrahedron Prize (2000), Harvey Prize (Israel, 2002), ACS Breslow Award (2005), Wilbur Cross Medal (2005), and the ACS Priestley Medal (2022). He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Medicine, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Philosophical Society, the French Academy of Sciences, and the German National Academy of Sciences.

Dervan is a scientific co-founder of Gilead Sciences (1987). He served as a trustee of Yale University (2008–17). Dervan is considered an outstanding teacher with several teaching awards from the students at Caltech.

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