The Inauguration of President Ray Jayawardhana

On October 29, 2026, Ray Jayawardhana, renowned astrophysicist, acclaimed author, and transformative leader, was inaugurated as Caltech's 10th president.

The Inauguration of President Jayawardhana celebrates the spirit of First Light—the threshold moment in astronomy when a telescope makes its first observation and opens a new window to discovery. That same spirit of possibility defines the Caltech community. Through curiosity-driven inquiry, powerful experimentation, and groundbreaking instrumentation, Caltech illuminates new fields of knowledge and accelerates breakthroughs that shape the future of science, technology, and society.

Join us in celebrating the next chapter.

Learn more about First Light: The Inauguration of President Ray Jayawardhana: https://inauguration.caltech.edu

Jump to special moments during the ceremony:

- 00:00 Opening Title

- 01:38 Organ Prelude - Leslie J. Deutsch (BS '76, PhD '80)

- 18:50 Processional - The Caltech Convocations Brass and Percussion Ensemble, directed by Glenn Price

- 30:37 Ceremony Opening - Jonas Zmuidzinas (BS '81), Chair of the Presidential Search Committee and Merle Kingsley Professor of Physics

- 33:25 Board Welcome - Ambassador Barbara M. Barrett, Chair of the Caltech Board of Trustees

Greetings from the Institute

- 37:12 Azita Emami, Chair of the Faculty and Andrew and Peggy Cherng Professor of Electrical Engineering and Medical Engineering

- 39:32 Shouleh Nikzad (DAA '26, PhD '90), Chief Technologist, Jet Propulsion Laboratory

- 43:56 Bisrat Kassahun, President of the Associated Students of the California Institute of Technology

- 46:15 Zachary A. Chase (MS '24), Chair Emeritus, Graduate Student Council

- 49:03 Jessica Watkins (Postdoc '17), NASA Astronaut, SpaceX Crew-13 Commander

- 51:38 SK Sharma (PhD '05), Alumni Representative on behalf of the Caltech Alumni Association Board of Directors

- 55:32 Introduction of Invited Speakers - Jonas Zmuidzinas (BS '81), Chair of the Presidential Search Committee and Merle Kingsley Professor of Physics

- 59:05 Peter B. Dervan, Bren Professor of Chemistry, Emeritus

- 1:07:40 Jacqueline K. Barton, John G. Kirkwood and Arthur A. Noyes Professor of Chemistry, Emerita

- 1:13:11 Musical Selection - "Gaudeamus Igitur," traditional college song (c. 1287)
-- Commissioned arrangement by Robert A. M. Ross
-- Performed by the Caltech Glee Club, conducted by Nancy Sulahian, Director of Choral Activities

Investiture of the President

- 1:19:08 Ambassador Barbara M. Barrett, Chair of the Caltech Board of Trustees
-- assisted by Kent Kresa, Chair Emeritus and Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees; and Presidents Emeriti Jean-Lou Chameau and Thomas F. Rosenbaum, William A. Fowler Professor of Physics, Emeritus

- 1:21:25 Introduction of President Jayawardhana - Kent Kresa, Chair Emeritus and Vice Chair of the Caltech Board of Trustees

- 1:29:19 Inaugural Address - Ray Jayawardhana, President, Sonja and William Davidow Presidential Chair and Professor of Astronomy

- 1:52:14 Alma Mater - “Hail CIT.” led by the Caltech Glee Club

- 1:54:20 Recessional - The Convocations Brass and Percussion Ensemble and Organ

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