Westfield State University President Dr. Linda Thompson chats with Georgi Regan, of Westfield, during social hour at The Investiture of Thompson at the Scanlon Banquet Hall April 28. A VIP dinner and musical performance were held in her honor. (Frederick Gore Photo)
Westfield State University President Dr. Linda Thompson addresses the crowd at The Investiture of Thompson at the Scanlon Banquet Hall April 28. A VIP dinner and musical performance were held in her honor. (Frederick Gore Photo)
Westfield State University President Dr. Linda Thompson, left, joins Mike Farris and Cassandra Bembry, of Oakland, Michigan, during social hour at The Investiture of Thompson at the Scanlon Banquet Hall April 28. A VIP dinner and musical performance were held in her honor. (Frederick Gore Photo)
Rev. Warren Savage, director of the on-campus Interfaith Center, addresses the crowd at The Investiture of Westfield State University President Dr. Linda Thompson at the Scanlon Banquet Hall April 28. A VIP dinner and musical performance were held in her honor. (Frederick Gore Photo)
Tim and Dorrine Sneed, of Springfield, arrive for The Investiture of Westfield State University President Dr. Linda Thompson at the Scanlon Banquet Hall April 28. A VIP dinner and musical performance were held in her honor. (Frederick Gore Photo)
Westfield State University Combo 127 Jazz Band members Will Murphy, Greg O’Connor and Trevor Taylor entertain the crowd during social hour at The Investiture of Westfield State University President Dr. Linda Thompson at the Scanlon Banquet Hall April 28. A VIP dinner and musical performance were held in her honor. (Frederick Gore Photo)
Peter Reinhart and Kathryn Ellis, both from UMass Amherst campus, attend social hour at The Investiture of Thompson at the Scanlon Banquet Hall April 28. A VIP dinner and musical performance were held in her honor. (Frederick Gore Photo)
Terry and Georgi Regan, of Westfield, arrive for The Investiture of Westfield State University President Dr. Linda Thompson at the Scanlon Banquet Hall April 28. A VIP dinner and musical performance were held in her honor. (Frederick Gore Photo)
Roy Simpson, of Atlanta, Georgia, chats with Andy Oleksak, of Westfield, during social hour at The Investiture of Westfield State University President Dr. Linda Thompson at the Scanlon Banquet Hall April 28. A VIP dinner and musical performance were held in her honor. (Frederick Gore Photo)
Tim Sneed, Gregory Thomas, state Rep. Bud Williams, and Darryl Williams, all of Springfield, enjoy social hour at The Investiture of Westfield State University President Dr. Linda Thompson at the Scanlon Banquet Hall April 28. A VIP dinner and musical performance were held in her honor. (Frederick Gore Photo)
Christine Peralta, of Pittsfield, chats with Karen Burns White, of Boston, during social hour at The Investiture of Westfield State University President Dr. Linda Thompson at the Scanlon Banquet Hall April 28. A VIP dinner and musical performance were held in her honor. (Frederick Gore Photo)
Denise Jordan, right, of Springfield, prepares to check in for The Investiture of Westfield State University President Dr. Linda Thompson at the Scanlon Banquet Hall April 28. A VIP dinner and musical performance were held in her honor. (Frederick Gore Photo)
Westfield State University President Dr. Linda Thompson, left, joins Angela DeFrank, of Charlotte, North Carolina, Sherry Abrnathy and Anne Mistivar, of Springfield, pose for a photo during social hour at The Investiture of Thompson at the Scanlon Banquet Hall April 28. A VIP dinner and musical performance were held in her honor. (Frederick Gore Photo)
Lisa McMahon, vice president for Institutional Advancement, addresses the crowd at The Investiture of Westfield State University President Dr. Linda Thompson at the Scanlon Banquet Hall April 28. A VIP dinner and musical performance were held in her honor. (Frederick Gore Photo)
Roy Simpson, of Atlanta, Georgia, chats with Clara Adams Ender, of Woodbridge, Virginia, during social hour at The Investiture of Westfield State University President Dr. Linda Thompson at the Scanlon Banquet Hall April 28. A VIP dinner and musical performance were held in her honor. (Frederick Gore Photo)
Westfield State University President Dr. Linda Thompson chats with John Morizio, of Westfield, during social hour at The Investiture of Thompson at the Scanlon Banquet Hall April 28. A VIP dinner and musical performance were held in her honor. (Frederick Gore Photo)
Willette H. Yarbrough Johnson, state Rep. Bud L. Williams, Dr. Gloria L. Williams, Buford Holloway, Emurriel Holloway and Helen Caulton Harris, pose for a photo during social hour at The Investiture of Westfield State University President Dr. Linda Thompson at the Scanlon Banquet Hall April 28. A VIP dinner and musical performance were held in her honor. (Frederick Gore Photo)
Dr. Robert Martin, Westfield State University chairman of the board of trustees, addresses the audience at The Investiture of Westfield State University President Dr. Linda Thompson at the Scanlon Banquet Hall April 28. A VIP dinner and musical performance were held in her honor. (Frederick Gore Photo)
Dinner is served at the Scanlon Banquet Hall at Westfield State University for The Investiture of Westfield State University President Dr. Linda Thompson April 28. A VIP dinner and musical performance were held in her honor. (Frederick Gore Photo)
Dinner is served at the Scanlon Banquet Hall at Westfield State University for The Investiture of Westfield State University President Dr. Linda Thompson April 28. A VIP dinner and musical performance were held in her honor. (Frederick Gore Photo)
WESTFIELD — The investiture of Westfield State University president Dr. Linda Thompson was celebrated with a dinner at Scanlon Banquet Hall and musical performance on Thursday, April 28.
A social hour and dinner were staged in the banquet hall prior to a jazz performance at the Catherine Dower Center.
The investiture ceremony will take place on Friday, April 29, on the campus green at 1 p.m.
Thompson said part of what drew her to Westfield State University was its origin as one of the first institutions to have an inclusive approach to welcome students regardless of their race, gender, or economic background.
“We need more of that in the world,” she said.
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