Inauguration of President A. Gabriel Esteban, Ph.D.

The 12th president of DePaul University, A. Gabriel Esteban, Ph.D., was inaugurated on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017, at the Navy Pier Grand Ballroom in Chicago. Dr. Esteban was named DePaul's first lay leader in the 119-year history of the nation's largest Catholic university. (DePaul University/Jeff Carrion)

(Left to right) DePaul alumni board member Nicole Guiffre-McQuade and president of the faculty council, Bamshad Mobasher, chat with former DePaul president, the Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider, C.M., as Dr. A. Gabriel Esteban reviews the event's program before the inauguration ceremony at Navy Pier. (DePaul University/Jamie Moncrief)

Donning their robes backstage, A. Gabriel Esteban, Ph. D., president of DePaul University, and Michael Lynch, president of the Student Government Association, prepare for the inauguration ceremony. (DePaul University/Jamie Moncrief)

A. Gabriel Esteban, Ph. D., president of DePaul University, pauses as he adjusts his robe in a mirror backstage. (DePaul University/Jamie Moncrief)

The Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider, C.M., left, and President A. Gabriel Esteban, Ph.D., right, help the Rev. John T. Richardson, C.M., chancellor and former president (1981-1993), with his vestments backstage before the inauguration ceremony. (DePaul University/Jamie Moncrief)

Phyllis Gregg, senior executive assistant to the president, offers a few words of encouragement and a final straightening of Dr. Esteban's vestments seconds before he enters the Grand Ballroom at Navy Pier for the inauguration ceremony. (DePaul University/Jamie Moncrief)

The chain of office is held backstage as DePaul University holds the inauguration ceremony of the 12th president, A. Gabriel Esteban, Ph.D. (DePaul University/Jamie Moncrief)

DePaul University's 12th president, A. Gabriel Esteban, Ph.D., left, makes his way into the Grand Ballroom at Navy Pier for his inauguration ceremony. (DePaul University/Jamie Moncrief)

Faculty, staff and students enter the Navy Pier Grand Ballroom carrying the various university's banners as DePaul University holds the inauguration ceremony of A. Gabriel Esteban, Ph.D. (DePaul University/Jeff Carrion)

Singers perform at the inauguration ceremony of Dr. A. Gabriel Esteban.  (DePaul University/Jeff Carrion)

Cardinal Blase Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, offers the invocation during the inauguration of Dr. A. Gabriel Esteban, DePaul University's 12th president. (DePaul University/Jamie Moncrief)

The Voices of DePaul ensemble performs a spoken word piece during the inauguration of Dr. A. Gabriel Esteban, DePaul University's 12th president. (DePaul University/Jeff Carrion)

The Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider, C.M., chancellor of DePaul, Cardinal Blase Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, and A. Gabriel Esteban, Ph.D., president of DePaul, left to right, applaud along with the platform party during Esteban's inauguration ceremony at Navy Pier. (DePaul University/Jeff Carrion)

Guests watch as DePaul University holds the inauguration ceremony of the 12th president, A. Gabriel Esteban, Ph.D., at the Navy Pier Grand Ballroom in Chicago. (DePaul University/Jamie Moncrief)

The Voices of DePaul perform at the inauguration of Dr. A. Gabriel Esteban. (DePaul University/Jeff Carrion)

DePaul University holds the inauguration ceremony of A. Gabriel Esteban, Ph.D., the first lay leader in the 119-year history of the nation's largest Catholic university. (DePaul University/Jamie Moncrief)

Charles Snelling, president of Staff Council, holds the university's mission statement during the inauguration of the 12th DePaul University president. (DePaul University/Jeff Carrion)

Nicole Guiffre-McQuade, a member of the alumni board, holds the chain of office during the inauguration of Dr. A. Gabriel Esteban. Guiffre-McQuade is a 2011 graduate of the School for New Learning. (DePaul University/Jeff Carrion)

James T. Ryan, chair of the board of trustees, center, leads the investiture portion of the inauguration ceremony of Dr. A. Gabriel Esteban, DePaul University's 12th president. (DePaul University/Jeff Carrion)

The Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider, C.M., chancellor and former president of DePaul University, places the chain of office on Dr. A. Gabriel Esteban. (DePaul University/Jeff Carrion)

A. Gabriel Esteban, Ph.D., is inaugurated as DePaul University's 12th president, the first lay leader in the 119-year history of the nation's largest Catholic university. (DePaul University/Jeff Carrion)

A. Gabriel Esteban, Ph.D., DePaul University's 12th president, offers his inauguration address. Dr. Esteban was named DePaul's first lay leader in the 119-year history of the nation's largest Catholic university. (DePaul University/Jamie Moncrief)

DePaul University's 12th president, A. Gabriel Esteban, Ph.D., presents his inauguration address. (DePaul University/Jeff Carrion)

Musicians from the School of Music entertain the guests at a reception following the president's inauguration at Navy Pier. (DePaul University/Jeff Carrion)

A. Gabriel Esteban, Ph.D., president of DePaul University, greets guests at a reception after his inauguration. (DePaul University/Jeff Carrion)

Guests gather for a reception at Navy Pier following the inauguration of A. Gabriel Esteban, Ph.D., as DePaul's first lay leader. (DePaul University/Jeff Carrion)

Matthew Sugimoto, Ysabella Esteban-Sugimoto, Josephine Esteban and A. Gabriel Esteban, Ph.D., president of DePaul University, left to right, at a reception following Dr. Esteban's inauguration. (DePaul University/Jeff Carrion)