Whittier College formally installed alumna President Kristine E. Dillon in a ceremony Friday.

Dillon has served as the interim president of the college since last year and was officially instated as president in the spring. The installment ceremony was a time to celebrate and officially welcome her to the role.

The ceremony featured an academic processional, tributes to Whittier College’s mission and remarks by the new president about the college’s future. There was also a brief community reception to follow.

The theme of the installation was, “Ignite. Connect. Renew.” Dillon defined the theme in her speech.

“It is a call to rekindle our sense of purpose, deepen our connections and renew our commitment to the values that make Whittier unique. We are a diverse and resilient community, working together to confront the pressing issues of our time with compassion and courage,” she said.

In May, the college Board of Trustees voted unanimously to appoint Dillon while she was serving as the interim president, a role she stepped into in July 2023 following the resignation of President Linda Oubré in June 2023.

Dillon majored in English and graduated from Whittier College in 1973. She worked as a senior advisor for Huron Consulting’s higher education practice, as president of the Consortium on Financing Higher Education and held senior positions at Tufts University and USC.