Exterior of Chapman Hall, a historic red brick building, on the UWM campus

The Inauguration of Thomas Gibson

In the spirit of “Always Dream Bigger,” the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee community celebrated the inauguration of Dr. Thomas Gibson as UWM’s 10th chancellor on Sept. 25, 2026.

From a pop-up roller disco party and drone show to a book drive and classroom reading at a neighborhood elementary school, Inauguration Week was all about community and a celebration of dreaming bigger. Through these photos and videos, you can get a glimpse of the joy leading up to and including Chancellor Gibson’s inauguration. 

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Ceremony Videos

Dozens of students took part in the inauguration ceremony, performing musical selections, presenting the Chancellor’s medallion and introducing Chancellor Gibson. Several of the chancellor’s mentors and colleagues as well as leaders within the state of Wisconsin and Universities of Wisconsin gave remarks. An English Department faculty member and poet delivered his original piece for the occasion, and chairs of UWM governance groups also spoke. UWM alumna Peggy Williams-Smith, president and CEO of Visit Milwaukee, served as emcee.  

In his speech, Gibson described being a first-generation college student and of how his dreams grew as his career developed. He also spoke of his vision for UWM’s future, announcing three imperatives to guide the university forward: 

  • Advancing student success and opportunity 
  • Elevating innovation, discovery and problem solving
  • Deepening community engagement and impact
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Always Dream Bigger at UW-Milwaukee

Other Ceremony Videos

Chancellor Thomas Gibson speaks at a podium during his inauguration, wearing black academic regalia with a gold chain of office and a black velvet cap with a gold tassel.
View from the stage over the shoulders of seated faculty in regalia, looking out at a packed auditorium as Chancellor Thomas Gibson speaks at the podium beside a stained-glass window.
Balcony view of the inauguration of Thomas Gibson, with faculty in regalia seated on stage around the podium, a musical ensemble at right, and a projection screen displaying the event title above an audience-filled hall.
Two people adjust the medallion on Chancellor Thomas Gibson's gold chain of office while other faculty in academic regalia look on.
Chancellor Thomas Gibson and a woman in a white top stand smiling among a drumline of students in blue and gold uniforms, posed behind their drums in an outdoor concrete plaza.
Chancellor Thomas Gibson laughs as he goes in for a high five with a man in a dark suit in the Union lobby, while drumline members in blue and gold walk in along a yellow carpet behind him.
Chancellor Thomas Gibson poses with two women and a man in business attire at an indoor reception, with round tables and other guests behind them.
Chancellor Thomas Gibson stands beside author Jessica Harris, a smiling woman with gray hair wearing a yellow shawl over a patterned dress, in front of a backdrop of hanging string lights.
A woman in black-rimmed glasses and a black-and-gold scarf takes a selfie with an orange phone while Chancellor Thomas Gibson smiles beside her.

Check out the gallery that captures moments of the ceremony at the Helen Bader Concert Hall at the Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts and en route to the reception in the UWM Student Union. 

Inauguration Week Photos

We capture Chancellor Gibson reading to elementary students at Hartford Avenue University School, as part of a campuswide book drive for schools. Students rocked roller skates during a pop-up disco party on campus, and groups relaxed as they took in a drone show over Engelmann Stadium. 

Chancellor Thomas Gibson stands with four other adults and students behind a table stacked with children's books, in front of a Hartford Avenue University School banner, in a school hallway with a wood floor.
Skaters glide across a rink lit in vivid colors at night in front of the UWM Student Union, while other students stand and mingle nearby.
Chancellor Thomas Gibson, wearing a bomber jacket and roller skates, poses with his arm around a smiling girl in a white cap and pink roller skates beside a colorful outdoor skating rink at dusk.
Chancellor Thomas Gibson poses with a young girl and three smiling students at the edge of an outdoor roller rink with a red and blue checkered floor under a twilight sky.
Chancellor Thomas Gibson, at left, laughs with a smiling woman in glasses who holds hands with a skater, while skaters glide across a brightly lit checkered rink behind them.
Five students sit close together on a checkered blanket on a lawn at night, smiling at the camera, with a crowd gathered on the grass and brick campus buildings lit up behind them.
A drone light show spells out 'Always dream bigger' in glowing dots against the night sky, with 'dream' in cursive amber lights and the other words in white and pale green.
Glowing yellow and white drone lights form the outline of UWM's panther logo against a black night sky.
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Watch Chancellor Gibson answer 25 questions posed by students. (UWM Photo/Troye Fox)

Get to Know Chancellor Gibson

Thomas Gibson believes higher education empowers people to dream bigger. With a background in academic affairs, student affairs and the classroom, he believes universities have a moral obligation to help students achieve their goals and realize their potential. A first-generation college graduate and the first in his family to earn a doctoral degree, Chancellor Gibson understands the transformative power of education. With an eye on the future, he is leading UWM to be a model of a public-serving research university grounded in access, research and community engagement.

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Get to Know UWM

At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, our students are driven to improve the world around them. Through top academic programs in the arts, health, technology and more, students develop in-demand skills and dive into cutting-edge research. They gain hands-on experience working with businesses and community organizations in the city. As alumni, they use what they’ve learned to make our lives and our world better.

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Professor Xiaohua Peng works in her biochemistry lab with undergraduate student Julia. More than 1,000 students participate in undergraduate research at UWM each year. (UWM Photo/Elora Hennessey)

UWM by the Numbers

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