With a promise of “only hard work and passion”, Hubert Benitez, DDS, PhD, was officially sworn in as the twelfth president of American International College in a stirring investiture ceremony on October 20, 2022. The native of Columbia delivered parts of his acceptance address in both English and Spanish, saying, “I think passion is important, for it’s passion that makes things possible.”

The ceremony inside the Esther B. Griswold Theatre in the Karen Sprague Cultural Arts Center took place six months after Dr. Benitez took office as president on April 11, 2022. Benitez told the audience that during that time, “I’ve been asked, multiple times, what surprised me most about AIC. I always say I’ve found that not only are people grateful to be here, but they love the place.”

President Benitez used the occasion to offer his vision for the future of the college, saying “We have challenges, but we will confront those challenges and turn them into opportunities. We are revitalizing what needs to be revitalized. Today is not about change, but about reimagining. We are dreaming big dreams with goals in mind.”

Read more about the investiture ceremony in this MassLive story and view the entire ceremony here.