We invite you to share your well wishes and messages of congratulations for President James C. Schmidt as he begins this new chapter of leadership.
Your note will be compiled and shared with the President as part of this special occasion.
If you did not receive an electronic invitation to the Installation Ceremony or inaugural events, please submit your name and contact information. An electronic invitation will be sent to you promptly.
Official Events
James Madison University gathers to mark the Installation Ceremony of James C. Schmidt, Ph.D., as the seventh President of the University.
This formal academic ceremony signifies the official investiture of presidential authority and the beginning of President Schmidt’s tenure. Rooted in tradition, the occasion honors the University’s mission, history, and shared commitment to leadership, service, and academic excellence.
The ceremony affirms JMU’s enduring values while celebrating a new chapter in the life of the University.
This event is a ticketed event. Electronic tickets will be sent to your email closer to inauguration from athletic-ticket@jmu.edu. Walk through metal detection and bag checks will occur at the entrances.
Suggested parking locations: C12, D3, R4, R5 lots and the Ballard Parking Deck
Location: Atlantic Union Bank Center
Doors will open at 1:00 p.m.
Help us celebrate President Jim's Inauguration at the All Dukes Welcome! Following the installation ceremony at the Atlantic Union Bank Center, the JMU community is invited to welcome President Jim and First Lady Kim with an afternoon of food and fun on the Festival Lawn. Test your skills with lawn games, take a photo with Duke Dog, sample some amazing food from local food trucks, and help show President Jim and First Lady Kim what the JMU community is all about as we celebrate them! A special MRD performance will be featured.
Those attending the Installation Ceremony are encouraged to walk from the Atlantic Union Bank Center.
Suggested parking locations: C12, D1, D2, D3, R4, R5 lots and the Ballard Parking Deck
Ideas become reality at the Gilliam Center for Entrepreneurship (GCFE) as faculty and staff engage, inspire and train our students to be the leaders of tomorrow through outstanding education and hands-on, real-world learning. By fostering and amplifying a creative, innovative spirit through future-focused experiences, the GCFE equips students with the skills and mindset to thrive today and to meet the changing demands of tomorrow.
Located in the Major Innovation Hub within the College of Business, the GCFE supports all JMU students—regardless of major or class year—as they transform their vision for a business or nonprofit into a tangible plan.
This showcase highlights the full continuum of GCFE programming and its impact across every college at JMU. Hear directly from students as they share how they turned their visions into real-world experiences. Drop in to browse projects, ask questions and see how ideas come to life.
Suggested parking locations: P and C5 lots
Location: Hartman Hall, Forum Room 2021
It’s a fun coincidence that President Jim Schmidt comes to JMU from Wisconsin—home to another Madison! In celebration of President Schmidt’s Inauguration, JMU Dining is teaming up with the President and First Lady to feature some of their favorite Midwest-inspired dishes. As President Jim’s journey has taken him from Minnesota to Wisconsin and now to Virginia, we’re inviting the JMU community to enjoy a culinary tour of the flavors that shaped his path to Harrisonburg. Join us for a delicious trip to the Midwest. Come hungry—and come celebrate President Jim with a taste of home!
Lunch and dinner for visiting guests are available at a cost of $16.50 per person, plus tax.
Suggested parking location: Mason Street and Grace Street Parking Decks
Location: D-Hall
We invite guests to explore how JMU’s Research, Economic Development & Innovation (REDI) division advances ideas from early concept to real‑world impact. Through a series of interactive stations, the event highlights REDI’s integrated support ecosystem for faculty, staff and students. Attendees will experience how Research Administration strengthens ethical, high‑impact scholarship; how innovative student programs foster creativity, collaboration and problem‑solving; and how REDI’s Economic Development initiatives help drive growth throughout the region and the commonwealth.
Featuring demonstrations, success stories, and conversations with faculty, staff and students, the showcase offers a dynamic look at the services, partnerships and outcomes that position REDI as a catalyst for discovery and advancement. Guests will leave with a deeper understanding of REDI’s full‑spectrum resources and a clearer sense of how the division fuels the success of the university and its community through innovation, research excellence, and economic impact.
Suggested parking locations: Mason Street, Grace Street and Warsaw Parking Decks
Location: Hall of Presidents, third floor D-Hall
It’s a fun coincidence that President Jim Schmidt comes to JMU from Wisconsin—home to another Madison! In celebration of President Schmidt’s Inauguration, JMU Dining is teaming up with the President and First Lady to feature some of their favorite Midwest-inspired dishes. As President Jim’s journey has taken him from Minnesota to Wisconsin and now to Virginia, we’re inviting the JMU community to enjoy a culinary tour of the flavors that shaped his path to Harrisonburg. Join us for a delicious trip to the Midwest. Come hungry—and come celebrate President Jim with a taste of home!
Lunch and dinner for visiting guests are available at a cost of $16.50 per person, plus tax.
Suggested parking location: Ballard Parking Deck and R5 lot
Location: East Campus Dining Hall
Join us for an evening that truly reflects the heartbeat of our campus as we celebrate the inauguration of our new university president. The Student Organization Performance Showcase brings together some of our most vibrant and talented student organizations—groups that embody the creativity, culture, and connection that define who we are as a community.
Suggested parking locations: C12, D1, D3, R4, R5 lots and the Ballard Parking Deck
Location: Festival Conference and Student Center, Grand Ballroom
Have you wondered how artificial intelligence (AI) will impact the colleges and universities of tomorrow? This panel features faculty experts exploring the impact of AI on the future of university education. Some of the questions we're exploring include
- How will AI change the way we teach, learn and conduct research?
- What does JMU need to do to ensure that students are prepared to use AI effectively and ethically in their future careers, allowing us to fulfill the Madison Promise?
- Most importantly, what are the key features of a university education that AI can’t replace?
Please join us for what promises to be a very thoughtful and provocative event as we consider the next stage in the evolution of higher education.
Suggested parking locations: C10, D1 and D2 lots
Location: Leeolou Alumni Center, Great Room
Celebrate JMU’s innovative Arboretum Living Laboratory as President Schmidt plants the first of hundreds of trees, the beginning of a green infrastructure reforestation. Learn about the exciting developments leaning into the Madison Promise in the realm of environmental stewardship, student and faculty research, and JMU’s participation in the Okanagan Charter.
In conjunction with the university’s Tree Campus Arbor Day observance, the Arboretum will give away saplings of native trees including oaks from the Virginia Department of Forestry’s legacy oaks in celebration of the United States’ 250th anniversary.
Following the tree planting, attendees will be transported to the Arboretum’s Frances Plecker Education Center for an open house with refreshments and the opportunity to participate in a student-led naturalist tour or a faculty-led mindfulness walk.
Suggested parking locations: R5 lot and Ballard Parking Deck
Location: Edith J. Carrier Arboretum
As part of the inauguration festivities honoring President Jim Schmidt, James Madison University will host The Promise of Partnerships, a community-centered event in the heart of Downtown Harrisonburg. Designed to showcase the power of collaboration between JMU and the wider community, this afternoon and evening gathering invites attendees to experience firsthand the partnerships, creativity, and entrepreneurial energy that define the region.
The event begins at 3:30 p.m. with a guided or self-guided immersive walking tour highlighting the real‑world impact of JMU’s connections with local businesses and community organizations. Participants may choose to explore at their own pace with a printed map or join a tour led by representatives from JMU, the City of Harrisonburg, and Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance. Each stop will include a brief conversation with a partner sharing the impact of their collaboration with JMU. Downtown storefronts will proudly display purple and gold décor.
The guided tour is limited to 50. Self-guided tour items will be available at the Harrisonburg Innovation Hub.
Location: Harrisonburg Innovation Hub, 25 N. Liberty Street
Rooted in the principles of the Okanagan Charter, this event honors JMU’s commitment to well‑being by bringing movement, connection, and balance to campus life in recognition of President Jim’s inauguration.
Motivating Madison into Motion is open to students, faculty, staff and community members, who are invited to take part in the celebration by getting active and enjoying UPark’s spaces together.
Join us to explore the 18‑hole disc golf course, tennis courts, sand volleyball, basketball and pickleball courts and walking path. The event lawn will also feature picnic tables and a variety of yard games, creating an energizing, welcoming space to play, unwind and connect with others in support of health and wellness.
Note: The Teams Challenge Course will be unavailable during this time.
Suggested parking locations: U1, U2 and U3 lots
Location: UPark, 1090 Devon Lane
Other events occurring on campus throughout the week
The President & First Lady’s Featured Collection celebrates the inauguration of our new university president with a thoughtfully curated selection from the JMU Bookstore. Join us for the President and First Lady personal choice of merchandise that reflect their interests, values, and vision for the university’s future. These featured items will be on display for the campus community to explore, enjoy, and purchase. Stop by the JMU Bookstore to discover what inspired their selections and take home a piece of this exciting new chapter in our university’s story.
Location: JMU Bookstore
Make time to stop by the Arts at 131 West Grace Street! Housed in a historic former seed store, JMU’s renovated interdisciplinary arts hub brings together art galleries, programming spaces and academic resources, resulting in a vibrant, accessible place where students, faculty, staff and community members can engage.
Take a look at the flexible exhibition, event, meeting and classroom spaces, along with offices, a conference room, workspace and artwork storage, on the first floor. On the upper level, you can browse the artWorks Gallery, which showcases work by JMU undergraduate and graduate students as well as faculty, and the New Image Gallery, which presents contemporary work by professional artists.
Suggested parking location: 131 West Grace Street Lot
Location: 131 West Grace Street
Tickets for Forbes Center events can be purchased online.
- April 8, JMU Lacrosse vs. Georgetown at Sentara Park, 4:00 p.m.
- April 10, JMU Softball vs. Louisiana at Veterans Memorial Park, 5:00 p.m.
- April 11, JMU Women’s Tennis vs. East Carolina at Hillside Courts, Noon
- April 11, JMU Softball vs. Louisiana at Veterans Memorial Park, 1:00 p.m.
The games and matches listed above are non-ticketed events.
