Good afternoon! Welcome! 


I am interim dean Celeste Watkins-Hayes, and I have been so looking forward to this event. It’s wonderful to see you all here— and a warm welcome as well to those of you watching online.


I’ll note in particular former U of M president Mary Sue Coleman, who I know is tuned in online. President Coleman was a wonderful partner to Dean Becky Blank throughout the construction of Weill Hall and later was a colleague to her as a Big Ten University president. We’re honored you could join us.


In a moment I’ll turn things over to our associate dean and director of Poverty Solutions Luke Shaefer to host today's talk.


But first I have the great pleasure of introducing our very special guest, whom we gathered today to celebrate and recognize: the distinguished Rebecca Blank. [applause]. 


Welcome, Becky, and thank you so much for being here.


Becky Blank is an internationally known labor economist and a leader in academia and in policy. 


She recently stepped down after a long and successful tenure as chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Before that, Becky was in DC. She served as President Obama’s acting commerce secretary, and she led the 2010 U.S. Census as undersecretary for economic affairs.


Before THAT, from 1999 to 2007, she was our dean, and she was a great one. 


Becky’s deanship was a time of tremendous growth for the school. She led the way for our naming for President Gerald Ford, for the construction of this beautiful building, for growth in our faculty, and for the launch of important programs that made us for the first time, a ‘full-service’ school, offering undergraduate and doctoral degrees in addition to our flagship masters degrees. 


Becky Blank put the Ford School on the map, literally and figuratively.


WE–all of us who learn and teach and work here, and our alumni too, out there making communities better–WE are the house that Becky built. 


Becky’s entire career has been a model of principled servant leadership, of deep commitment to social justice, and of the power of good public policy. 


And so I’ll close with a proclamation:


In grateful tribute to Becky’s leadership and her legacy, it is my honor as dean of the Ford School to officially proclaim that Weill Hall’s central gathering space–just outside those doors–will from this moment be named the Rebecca M. Blank Great Hall. 


[applause]


Congratulations, Becky, and thank you!


Luke …