July 3 began as a bright morning for the University of Oregon as Karl Scholz walked the steps into Johnson Hall for his first day in the office as the university’s 19th president.

“Joining the University of Oregon is a dream come true,” he said. “I am committed to building on our momentum, serving our state and society, and expanding our impact together.”

Among the top items on the day’s docket was sending a message to the university community, which included an invitation to a meet-and-greet social July 12 on the EMU Green from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. It’s the first of many events Scholz will host or participate in over the coming months as he meets with students, staff, faculty and community members to gain insight into the university and the community.

“My focus for my first few months is to listen and learn,” Scholz, an economist, professor and former provost at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said. “I come with experiences and ideas of how to enhance our already outstanding university, but these ideas will be informed by the expertise and unique contributions of the members of our University of Oregon community.”

Scholz and his wife, Melissa, arrived in Eugene the prior week and moved into McMorran House, the traditional and longtime home for UO presidents located near campus. The couple plans to immerse themselves in Eugene’s culture from the start: attending the track and field meet at Hayward Field later this week, taking in an Oregon Bach Festival concert and otherwise getting to know their new hometown.

Scholz has visited Oregon three times since he was appointed to the role on March 13 in a unanimous vote by the University of Oregon Board of Trustees. Scholz officially began his tenure on July 1, succeeding Michael H. Schill, who left in August 2022 to become president of Northwestern University. Jamie Moffitt, who has served as interim president since March, has returned to her post as the university’s chief financial officer and senior vice president of finance and administration.