The soon-to-be-installed 21st president of Allegheny College answers to pretty much anything, he says with a chuckle, but James H. Mullen Jr., Ph.D., would just as soon be called Jim.

During a three-day inaugural celebration beginning Friday, area residents, invited guests and members of the Allegheny community will have an opportunity to do just that.

Those who don’t ordinarily spend their days on campus will also have a number of opportunities to get better acquainted with some of the college’s offerings. “It’s really a celebration of all that’s Allegheny,” Mullen said during a recent interview. On Aug. 1, Mullen succeeded Richard Cook, who retired July 31.

Public festivities begin at 2 p.m. Friday afternoon with the opening of special exhibits and the beginning of a two-part lecture series. The installation, which begins at 4:30 p.m., will be preceded by a procession of delegates representing peer colleges from throughout the country. A reception in the college’s Henderson Campus Center will follow.

Saturday may look like a quiet day at first glance, with the only public on-campus activity a farmer’s market on the campus center plaza. However, first glances can be deceiving. Starting first thing Saturday, the new president, his family and countless volunteers will take part in Meadville’s annual Make A Difference Day. The college will also host the lunch for volunteers that follows.

“The lectures are special — and obviously, they have a special significance to me,” said Mullen, whose classroom career has been devoted to political science, the general topic of both Friday lectures. “But Make A Difference Day the following morning means something very special to me. Building Make A Difference Day into that weekend is a very special part of that celebration.”

Beyond the inauguration

Seeking opportunities on various levels to partner with the Meadville community is expected to be a key component of the Mullen administration.

From a personal perspective, “I’m just continuing to feel part of the community,” said Mullen, who moved to Meadville with his wife, Mari, their children, daughter Frankie and son James, and Sonsy, the first First Dog on the Allegheny campus in recent memory, in July.

“The magic for us is that we don’t feel like newcomers anymore,” he continued. “What I like about this area is that there’s no pretense here. You are who you are. People value you as a person, not what your position is.”

On a professional level, “Across the country, there are some colleges that are islands,” Mullen said. “You can’t be. How do you ask our students to care as citizens when we as an institution aren’t going to? The wonderful thing is that Allegheny has a rich history as a collaborating partner. That’s a major piece of why it has felt so natural to come here.”

In the short term, Mullen is confident that Allegheny is well-positioned to weather the current economic storm. “We’re watching the way you would in any situation like this, recognizing that these are uncertain times,” he said. “That said, thanks to a lot of hard work by great people here, we are in solid shape, so we will be able to weather this uncertain time in the marketplace. That’s good news, but it also means we’re careful. We’ll be very prudent as we go through the next couple months in terms of our budget preparation and in terms of watching expenditures.”

Another piece of good news is that applications are coming in strong. “It’s early, but we’re a bit ahead of last year,” he said, noting that tours for prospective students are also full. “We’re sensitive to the fact that in this time, it’s a challenge for families. We’re continuing to focus on building the aid opportunities so students that are accepted here will be able to come here — and to succeed.”