Chestnut Hill College on Friday formally inaugurated its eighth president, Brian McCloskey, a full-circle moment for the Philadelphia native. He was honored with a papal blessing and speeches from Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, other local politicians, colleagues and family.

“Dr. McCloskey’s story feels very Philadelphia to me,” Councilmember Cindy Bass said. “Here is a kid from Feltonville, who started his journey at Community College of Philadelphia, working, paying his own way, and today he is the president of a college.”

Cheerleaders and athletes lined the sidewalk along Ann Rusnack Sorgenti Arena as a procession of alumni and speakers walked by, accompanied by festive brass. The ceremony began at 11:30 a.m. with a keynote address by Carol Steinour Young, chair of the college’s board of trustees.

The tributes continued with words from Bass, state Rep. Tarik Khan, and a recorded video from state Sen. Art Haywood.

Khan presented McCloskey with a legislative citation from Harrisburg, celebrating the college’s contributions to Pennsylvania’s higher education system.

“Students know you are one of them, and care for them; your story is something that people can look at and think ‘that could be me,’” Khan said. “You embody the fact that if you work hard, you stay true to your values and you treat others well, anything is possible.”

Jonathan Peri, president of Manor College, offered a perspective on what it is like to know McCloskey both personally and professionally.

“Brian and I are brothers at heart,” Peri said. “You are so blessed with Dr. McCloskey; his reasoning is crystal clear, and he uncovers truth in a world where higher education has become a highly regulated industry.”

Parker spoke about legacy and her relationship with Chestnut Hill College, as she represented the college and the surrounding area during her time in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. She also highlighted the city’s public safety efforts, noting that Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel is a Chestnut Hill College alumnus.

“If I had one thing I could wish for every Philadelphian, a young person, [it would be] to be plugged into, powered by an institution that is bigger than our individual selves,” Parker said. It would be, she added, “an institution that will connect you to social networks and academic preparation.”

In closing, Parker poked fun at her viral Eagles spelling mishap last year, when she led a crowd by chanting “E-L-G-S-E-S, Eagles!” As she addressed Friday’s audience, she asked them to put their “ones up high for the ’gram,” referring to Instagram, and recite, “one Philly, a united city, one America, a united nation.”

At 12:50 p.m., McCloskey was officially inaugurated and draped in a Presidential Chain of Office. The college appointed him president in August 2025.

Final reflections were delivered by McCloskey’s children, Bailey and Paige McCloskey, followed by a speech of gratitude from the senior McCloskey. In his speech, he recognized his parents, Francis and Rosemary McCloskey, who were in attendance, for passing down their work ethic.

“I am overwhelmed. I have never heard this many nice things said about me ever,” McCloskey said.

“I stand on the shoulders of those who came before me, and my responsibility is to make sure that when the next generation arrives, they have an even stronger place to stand.”