Hobart and William Smith Colleges opened the 2026-27 academic year Sunday with a convocation focused on curiosity, relationships and learning through uncertainty.
The Aug. 30 ceremony welcomed the Class of 2030 and returning students. Rain moved the program indoors, but speakers retained the traditional start-of-year emphasis on community and shared responsibility.
Alumni urge students to stay curious
Alumni Jane Erickson and Paul Wasmund, both members of the Class of 2007, spoke about paths that changed after college and the relationships that helped them make decisions. Wasmund is also a member of the HWS Board of Trustees.
Their remarks encouraged students to treat uncertainty as part of learning rather than a setback. Speakers said questions, mentorship and participation can matter as much as a fixed career plan.
Chaplain Nita Byrd offered an opening reflection. Student Government President Ela Gardiner, a member of the Class of 2027, discussed lessons from a Washington internship and the support she found through the HWS network.
Faculty and campus perspectives
Professor Susan Flanders Cushman, a 1998 graduate, spoke about the relationship between teaching and continued learning. She urged students to seek people and experiences that challenge their assumptions.
President Mark Gearan welcomed the incoming class and described the academic year as a chance to build habits of inquiry and service. Senior Associate Dean Kelly Payne also addressed the students.
The ceremony marked the formal beginning of classes and campus programming for the year.
Convocation is one of several annual traditions intended to bring together students, faculty, staff and alumni at the start of the fall semester.
The colleges said this year's theme asked students to “learn your way forward” by drawing on both individual interests and the wider campus community.
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