Eboo Patel, founder and president of Interfaith America, will serve as the keynote speaker for the inauguration of Randolph-Macon’s 16th president, Dr. Michael E. Hill, on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Frank Brown Fountain Plaza. As part of a week of inaugural festivities, Patel will also deliver the Ira Andrews Lecture for a public audience on Thursday, April 23 at 5 p.m. in Blackwell Auditorium.

Interfaith America is the nation’s leading interfaith organization, partnering with governments, universities, businesses, and civic organizations to transform faith into a bridge of cooperation rather than a barrier of division.

Patel served on President Barack Obama’s Inaugural Faith Council and was recognized as “one of America’s best leaders” by U.S. News and World Report. He has delivered hundreds of keynotes and authored five books, including We Need to Build: Field Notes for Diverse Democracy. Patel, who earned a doctorate in the sociology of religion from Oxford University, is a Rhodes Scholar and an Ashoka Fellow.

The selection of Patel as the inauguration keynote echoes President Hill’s longstanding commitment to dialogue across differences and signals his vision for RMC’s role in expanding pluralism. “I am thrilled to welcome my dear friend Eboo Patel as the keynote speaker for our inauguration ceremony,” President Hill remarked. “Not only is he a long-time friend and thought partner, but his work in bridging gaps across various faith traditions, and his more recent work on advancing pluralism in our nation, underscores our college’s mission of developing the mind and character of our students.”

The investiture ceremony is the highlight of several days in which the entire RMC community is invited to celebrate the inauguration together. The schedule includes academic symposia and a community celebration.

The Ira Andrew Lecture Series honors Ira L. Andrews III ’59, a cherished member of the RMC community for more than 50 years. After graduating from RMC and earning a Master of Divinity degree from Candler School of Theology at Emory University, Andrews returned to his alma mater as a professor of religious studies and was later appointed to serve as Dean of Students, a role that he held for 35 years.

The purpose of the Ira Andrews Lecture is to bring highly respected ministers or religious experts, without restriction as to denominational affiliation, to speak to the Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church congregation, Randolph-Macon students, and the community on topics that interested Andrews, such as the intersection of faith and society. Patel will be the first speaker in the series outside of the Christian faith.