New London welcomes President Bergeron at downtown reception

Connecticut College President Katherine Bergeron and New London Mayor Daryl Justin Finizio greet each other at the March 27 community reception. The event was the first in a series leading up to Bergeron's April 5 Inauguration.
Connecticut College President Katherine Bergeron and New London Mayor Daryl Justin Finizio greet each other at the March 27 community reception. The event was the first in a series leading up to Bergeron's April 5 Inauguration.

Celebrating a mutually beneficial relationship as old as Connecticut College itself, more than 100 members of the New London and College communities gathered at the city’s Thames Club yesterday to meet and mingle with the College’s new president, Katherine Bergeron.

The community reception, hosted by the College, kicked off a week of activities leading up to Bergeron’s on Saturday, April 5.

In brief remarks to the crowd, which included city officials, business leaders and many of the College’s community partners, New London Mayor Daryl Justin Finizio formally welcomed Bergeron to New London and said he is looking forward to working with her to reinvigorate the historic partnership between the city and the College.

Bergeron told the guests that she has enjoyed meeting so many influential community leaders and experiencing firsthand "the warmth and generosity that characterizes the city of New London.”

She emphasized the College’s reciprocal relationship with the city is tied to its mission as an educational institution, adding there is nothing more important for the development of students as leaders than getting involved in the community. Each year, nearly 600 Connecticut College students do internships, complete coursework and work-study placements, or volunteer at nearly 50 local agencies, schools and organizations. The College has also founded a number of signature education programs that support New London schoolchildren and youth.

When Bergeron shared that she was born at New London’s Lawrence and Memorial Hospital, making her return to the city a homecoming of sorts, the crowd erupted into applause. 



March 28, 2014