President Wendy Wintersteen has held her position at Iowa State University since Nov. 20, 2017, and after ten months of leadership, she will finally be installed as the president.

Wintersteen’s installation ceremony will be held at 10:15 a.m. on Friday at Stephens Auditorium. In her speech “To Serve, To Lead, To Excel,” Wintersteen will address Iowa State’s accomplishments over the years, as well as her own visions for the university.

The installation is an event to bring the Iowa State community together, Wintersteen said. It is an opportunity to celebrate achievements, to envision the future, and, in the wake of Celia Barquin Arozamena’s tragic death, Wintersteen hopes it can serve as a time to heal.

“We will recognize Celia’s passing at the installation,” Wintersteen said. “It’s important to be able to acknowledge our feelings, and as I’ve visited over the past days, you hear so many stories of how people knew Celia Barquin Arozamena, and it’s those stories that will keep her memory alive.”

In her address, Wintersteen will specifically discuss her plans to build entrepreneurship through initiatives such as the Student Innovation Center and continue building on Iowa State’s student-centered experience.

She will also examine Iowa State’s past accomplishments as opportunities to continue the university’s growth.

“I want to talk about the history of ISU and its accomplishments and how they’ve provided a foundation,” Wintersteen said. “Together, we’re going to move forward.”

In the spring, Wintersteen asked Olivia Madison, who has chaired the previous three installation committees, to come out of retirement in order to chair her installation committee as well. Madison accepted, calling the request an honor.

“She has made a wonderful start as president,” Madison said. “She’s really paying attention and getting out and meeting groups. She’s just being herself. She’s a very warm and open person, and I believe this installation will showcase that.”

Madison said the ceremony may be larger than past installations because of the number of people who know Wintersteen from her work throughout the state.

Rep. Steve King, Gov. Kim Reynolds and Mayor John Haila plan to attend, with Reynolds offering Wintersteen a greeting from the citizens of Iowa.

Former Iowa State President Gregory Geoffroy, who promoted Wintersteen to the dean of College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, will also be in attendance to introduce Wintersteen. Iowa Board of Regents President Michael Richards will preside over the ceremony.

Both Wintersteen and Madison expressed that Study Body President Julian Neely provided immense help in planning Thursday’s luncheon before the installation.

The installation can be viewed via livesteam here.