Mount Mercy President installation ceremony

Savannah Blake

Apr. 29, 2022 5:23 pm, Updated: Apr. 29, 2022 5:45 pm

Mount Mercy President Dr. Todd A. Olson gives his inaugural address during his installation ceremony Friday at Hennessy Recreation Center in Cedar Rapids. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

A large crowd gathers for the installation ceremony of Mount Mercy President Dr. Todd A. Olson at Hennessy Recreation Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Friday, April 29, 2022. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Programs for the installation of Dr. Todd A. Olson sit out before the start of the ceremony at Hennessy Recreation Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Friday, April 29, 2022. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Mount Mercy President Dr. Todd A. Olson gives his inaugural address during his installation ceremony at Hennessy Recreation Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Friday, April 29, 2022. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Mount Mercy freshmen Mariah Petersen and Eric Heitland play the Mount Mercy alma mater after Mount Mercy President Dr. Todd A. Olson gave his inaugural address. The Mount Mercy band and choir performed during Olson’s installation. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Mount Mercy staff line up in rows during the processional of President Dr. Todd A. Olson’s installation ceremony at Hennessy Recreation Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Friday, April 29, 2022. The event was highly attended and featured performances from the Mount Mercy band and choir. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Georgetown University President Dr. John J. DeGioia smiles as he speaks about Mount Mercy President Dr. Todd A. Olson during his installation ceremony at Hennessy Recreation Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Friday, April 29, 2022. Olson worked with DeGioia at Georgetown prior to coming to Iowa. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell delivers a call to service speech Mount Mercy President Dr. Todd A. Olson during his installation ceremony at Hennessy Recreation Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Friday, April 29, 2022. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

International student representatives present the flags of their home countries during the processional of the installation ceremony for President Dr. Todd A. Olson at Hennessy Recreation Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Friday, April 29, 2022. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Mount Mercy Chair of the Board of Trustees Charles A. Rohde gifts Mount Mercy President Dr. Todd A. Olson the presidential chain during his installation ceremony at Hennessy Recreation Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Friday, April 29, 2022. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

The Rev. John Flaherty gives an invocation at the start of the installation for Mount Mercy President Dr. Todd A. Olson. Flaherty asked for blessings over the school and over the new president. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Sister Mary Lou Podzimek smiles during the blessing from Dubuque Archbishop Michael Jackels. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Mount Mercy President Dr. Todd A. Olson hugs his former co-worker and friend Georgetown President Dr. John J. DeGioia during his installation at Hennessy Recreation Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Friday, April 29, 2022. DeGioia spoke about his time working with Olson at Georgetown and the work he did there to help him in his journey to becoming the Mount Mercy President. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Mount Mercy President Dr. Todd A. Olson was honored during the installation ceremony at Hennessey Recreation Center at Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Friday, April 29th, 2022.