Grove City College begins a new chapter in its storied 139-year history with the official Inauguration of Pittsburgh native, the Honorable Paul J. McNulty ’80 as the College’s ninth president at 10 a.m. Monday, March 23, in Harbison Chapel. The Inauguration theme “For Faith. For Freedom. For the Future.” underscores the pillars upon which Grove City College was founded.
Guest speakers for the event will include President and Chancellor of Baylor University, Kenneth W. Starr, and former U.S. Attorney General, U.S. Senator and Governor of Missouri, John D. Ashcroft.
Starr, who will be speaking on the inauguration theme of “Faith,” has led an impressive career in academia, law and public service. He is best known for work on numerous cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, as U.S. Solicitor General and independent counsel for five investigations, including Whitewater.
Ashcroft, who will be speaking on “Freedom,” is chairman of The Ashcroft Group and The Ashcroft Law Firm. President McNulty served as the U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia under Ashcroft, overseeing the prosecution of alleged terrorists in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks.
McNulty is the fourth alumnus to serve as President of the College, where he studied history and met his wife, Brenda (Millican ’80). His new calling follows a distinguished 30-year career as U.S. Deputy Attorney General, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Chief Counsel and Director of Legislative Operations for the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, and Chief Counsel for the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Crime. He is Of Counsel with the law firm of Baker & McKenzie and is considered an international expert in business ethics, corporate governance and internal investigations.
“Paul McNulty is an outstanding, ethical leader who has excelled in public service and private enterprise while never losing focus on the foundational principles that he solidified at Grove City College,” David Rathburn ’79, Chairman of the College’s Board of Trustees, said. “We are grateful that he answered the call to lead and serve the College. I am confident that he will advance the mission to provide a quality, Christian education at an affordable cost and uphold our core values of faith and freedom. We look forward to formally beginning a new chapter in the College’s history with his inauguration.”
McNulty said, “As a student, parent and trustee of this College, I have a deep and abiding appreciation for Grove City College’s values of faith and freedom. My vision for the future is to strengthen Grove City College’s legacy as one of our nation’s pre-eminent liberal arts and sciences institutions preparing educated individuals – intellectually and morally – for a life that favorably impacts the world.”
With a nod to President McNulty’s Irish heritage, pre-event festivities kick off Friday night, March 20, with an Irish Coffeehouse Stroll featuring music from students at 6 p.m. in Ketler Rec Room and The Wild Geese, an Irish band from Pittsburgh, in Breen Student Union at 9 p.m. Entertainment continues Saturday, March 21, with a concert by the Grove City College Touring Choir at 7:30 p.m. in Harbison Chapel.
A Vespers Service will be held at 5 p.m. Sunday, March 22, in Harbison Chapel featuring guest speaker Dr. Andrew Hoffecker a life-long friend of President McNulty’s. Hoffecker was a professor of religion at Grove City College for 25 years and officiated at the wedding of President and Mrs. McNulty some 30 years ago alongside then-Grove City College President Dr. Charles MacKenzie. Hoffecker is professor of church history emeritus at the Reformed Theological Seminary.
Following Vespers, the campus can enjoy a Celebration of Music with acclaimed husband-and-wife Irish singer/songwriters, The Gettys. Keith and Kristyn Getty, favorites of the McNulty clan, will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the Physical Learning Center Arena.