MINNEAPOLIS — The University of Minnesota's new president says the school is ready to meet the challenges facing higher education.
Joan Gabel was formally inaugurated as the University's 17th president at University Hall Friday morning.
She's the first woman president in the school's 168 year history.
After the ceremony, President Gabel took a celebratory walk through campus to the steps at Northrup auditorium.
In her speech, Gabel talked about the pressure around the price of higher education.
She said the school is committed to controlling costs.
"An excellence that values accessibility and affordability. An excellence that develops and graduate learners with the skills they need to maximize their potential throughout their lives in a rapidly changing world," said Gabel.
Before coming to Minnesota, Gabel was the Provost at the Univeristy of South Carolina.
She has signed a five-year contract with the U of M.