Hobart and William Smith Colleges

This page is a service of the Office of Communications at Hobart and William Smith Colleges for those who wish to read or save the full text of public speeches or lectures delivered on the campus.

August 2024:

• President Mark D. Gearan gave Convocation 2024 Remarks.

May 2024:

• Carol Spahn gave the Commencement 2024 Address.
• President Mark D. Gearan gave the Commencement 2024 Valedictory Remarks.

May 2023:

• Alan Khazei gave the Commencement 2023 Address.
• President Mark D. Gearan gave the Commencement 2023 Valedictory Remarks.
• Irini Konstantinou '23 gave the William Smith senior speech.
• Sreyan Kanungo '23 gave the Hobart senior speech.

May 2022:

• Dr. Christopher Beyrer gave the Commencement 2022 Address.
• President Joyce P. Jacobsen gave the Commencement 2022 Valedictory Remarks.
• Mary Mazzarella '22 gave the William Smith senior speech.
• Caleb Austin '22 gave the Hobart senior speech.

June 2021:

• The Most Reverend Michael B. Curry gave the Commencement 2020 Address.
• President Joyce P. Jacobsen gave the Commencement 2020 Valedictory Remarks.
• Gavin Flood '20 gave the Hobart senior speech.
• Gianna Gonzalez '20 gave the William Smith senior speech.

May 2021:

• Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden gave the Commencement 2021 Address.
• President Joyce P. Jacobsen gave the Commencement 2021 Valedictory Remarks.
• Sarah Berman '21 gave the William Smith senior speech.
• Jackson Lesure '21 gave the Hobart senior speech.

November 2019:

• William Smith College Dean Lisa Kaenzig gave the Founder's Day welcome speech.

October 2019:

• President Joyce P. Jacobsen gave the Inaugural Address.
• Chair of the Board of Trustees Tom Bozzuto '68 gave the Presidential Inauguration Welcome Address.
• Matt Crow gave the Presidential Inauguration Faculty Greeting.
• Julie Bazan '93 and Rick Solomon '75, P'10 gave the Presidential Inauguration Greetings from the Alumni and Alumnae Associations.
• Edens Fleurizard '20: gave a Presidential Inauguration Student Reading.
• Gianna Gonzalez '20 gave a Presidential Inauguration Student Reading.

August 2019:

• Matt Lamanna '97 gave the Convocation address.
• President Joyce P. Jacobsen gave Convocation remarks.
• Student Trustee Edens Fleurizard '20 gave the Hobart student address.
• Student Trustee Gianna Gonzalez '20 gave the William Smith student address.
• Professor of Chemistry Erin Pelkey gave the faculty address.

May 2019:

• Dorothy H. Wickenden '76, L.H.D. '14 gave the Commencement Address.
• Interim President Patrick A. McGuire L.H.D. '12 gave the Commencement Valedictory Remarks.
• Jemma Roche '19 gave the William Smith senior speech.
• Alex Kerai '19 gave the Hobart senior speech.
• Christine Janis '76 gave the Baccalaureate Address.
• Matthew Fox '19 gave Baccalaureate Remarks.
• Sarah Walters '19 gave Baccalaureate Remarks.

April 2019

• Matthew Fox '19 gave Charter Day Remarks.

August 27, 2018:

• Margarita Ramos '85 gave the Convocation address.
• Interim President Patrick A. McGuire L.H.D. '12 gave Convocation remarks.
• Dr. Jeremy Cushman '96 gave Convocation remarks.
• Student Trustee Gavin Gross '19 gave the Hobart student address.
• Student Trustee Caitlin Lasher '19 gave the William Smith student address.
• Associate Professor of Media and Society Leah Shafer gave the faculty address.

May 19, 2018:

• The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry '75 gave the Royal Wedding Address for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle.

May 2018:

• John Grotzinger '79, Sc.D. '13 gave the Commencement Address.
• Interim President Patrick A. McGuire L.H.D. '12 gave the Commencement Valedictory Remarks.
• HWS President Emeritus Mark D. Gearan L.H.D. '17, P'21 gave Congratulatory Remarks.
• Quinn Cullum '18 gave the William Smith senior speech.
• Almamy Conde '18 gave the Hobart senior speech.
• Dean of Hobart College Eugen Baer gave the Baccalaureate Address.
• Interim Provost DeWayne Lucas gave the Special Commencement Address.

October 2017:

• President Gregory J. Vincent '83: Inaugural Address.
• Chair of the Board of Trustees Tom Bozzuto '68: Presidential Inauguration Welcome Address.
• Nan Crystal Arens: Presidential Inauguration Faculty Greeting.
• Tyler Fuller '18: Presidential Inauguration Student Reading.
• Brianna Moore '18: Presidential Inauguration Student Reading.
• Jane Erickson '07 and Frank Aloise '87: Presidential Inauguration Greetings from the Alumni and Alumnae Associations.
• Clarence E. Butler L.H.D. '06: gave the Presidential Inauguration Introduction of President Gregory J. Vincent.

September 2017:

• Savas Abadsidis '96: LGBTQ+ Resource Center Opening Keynote address

August 2017:

• Laura L. Sydell '83 gave the Convocation address.
• President Gregory J. Vincent '83 gave Convocation remarks.
• Chair of the Board of Trustees Tom Bozzuto '68 gave Convocation remarks.
• Student Trustee Brianna Moore '18 gave the William Smith student address.
• Student Trustee Tyler Fuller '18 gave the Hobart student address.
• Professor of Philosophy Scott Brophy 78, P'12 gave the faculty address.

May 2017:

• William Jefferson Clinton gave the Commencement Address.
• Mark D. Gearan gave the Commencement Valedictory Remarks.
• Matthew Skinner '17 gave the Hobart senior speech.
• Sydney Gomez '17 gave the William Smith senior speech.
• The Rt. Rev. Prince Grenville Singh gave the Baccalaureate address

August 2016:

• Chaplain Maurice Charles gave Convocation remarks.
• President Mark D. Gearan gave Convocation remarks.
• Chair of the Board of Trustees Tom Bozzuto '68 gave Convocation remarks.
• Dr. Gregory J. Vincent '83 gave the Convocation address.
• Student Trustee Zach Grattan '17 gave the Hobart student address.
• Student Trustee Sydney Gomez '17 gave the William Smith student address.
• Professor of Geoscience Nan Crystal Arens gave the faculty address.

May 2016:

• Dr. Cheryl Dorsey, L.H.D. '16 gave the Commencement Address.
• Mark D. Gearan gave the Commencement Valedictory Remarks.
• Connor May '16 gave the Hobart senior speech.
• Kelly Craig '16 gave the William Smith senior speech.
• Maureen Collins Zupan '72, P'09, L.H.D. '16 gave the Baccalaureate address

April 2016:

• John E. Norvell '66 P'99 P'02 gave the Benjamin Hale Dinner address

August 2015:

• Chaplain Maurice Charles gave Convocation remarks.
• President Mark D. Gearan gave Convocation remarks.
• Student Trustee Maxwell Gorton '16 gave the Hobart student address.
• Title IX Coordinator Susan Lee gave Convocation remarks.
• Student Trustee Nicole O'Connell '16 gave the William Smith student address.
• Professor of Art and Architecture Nick Ruth gave Convocation remarks.
• Chair of the Board of Trustees Maureen Collins Zupan '72, P'09 gave the Convocation address.

May 2015:

• David Gergen L.H.D. '15 gave the Commencement Address.
• Mark D. Gearan gave the Commencement Valedictory Remarks.
• Loren Hiser '15 gave the William Smith senior speech.
• Nick Donovan '15 gave the Hobart senior speech.
• Lesley Adams HON'12, HON'15 gave the Baccalaureate address

September 2014:

• Dr. Christopher C. Beyrer '81 gave the Convocation address.
• Mark D. Gearan gave Convocation remarks.
• Rodman King gave Convocation remarks.
• Nick Stewart '15 gave the Hobart student address.
• Caroline Demeter '15 gave the William Smith student address.

June 2014:

• James McCorkle '76 gave remarks at the Distinguished Faculty Award Ceremony honoring Claudette Columbus.

May 2014:

• Brad Falchuk '93, L.H.D.'14 gave the Commencement Address.
• Mark D. Gearan gave the Commencement Valedictory Remarks.
• Aaron O'Brien '14 gave the Hobart senior speech.
• Kilby Bronstein '14 gave the William Smith senior speech.
• Susanne McNally HON'14 gave the Baccalaureate address.

August 2013:

• Christopher McDonald '77, L.H.D.'13 gave the Convocation address.
• Mark D. Gearan gave Convocation remarks.
• Titi Ufomata gave Convocation remarks.
• Laura Free gave Convocation remarks.
• Abby Evans '14 gave the William Smith student address.
• Greg Mathieu '14 gave the Hobart student address.

May 2013:

• James Carville LL.D. '13 gave the Commencement address.
• Mark D. Gearan gave the Commencement Valedictory Remarks.
• Drew Oliveira '13 gave the Hobart senior speech.
• Renee Jensen '13 gave the William Smith senior speech.
• Mara O'Laughlin '66, L.H.D. '13 gave the Baccalaureate address.
• Scott Mason '80 gave the Hobart Launch address.

February 2013:

• James Carroll

September 2012:

• Rt. Rev. George Packard '66 spoke at the event "Celebrating 150 Years of St. John's Chapel"

August 2012: Convocation

• Charles Best gave the Convocation address.
• Mark D. Gearan gave Convocation remarks.
• Dr. Titilayo Ufomata gave Convocation remarks.
• Kees Nordin '13 gave Convocation remarks.
• Loren Marshall '13 gave Convocation remarks.

May 2012: Commencement

• Savannah Guthrie L.H.D. '12 gave the Commencement address.
• Mark D. Gearan gave the Commencement Valedictory Remarks.
• Isaias Garcia '12 gave the Hobart senior speech.
• Grace Hunt '12 gave the William Smith senior speech.
• Cynthia L. Caird L.H.D. '12 gave a speech at a Reception at the President's Home.

April 2012: Arbor Day

• Derek Weiss '12 delivered a speech at the Arbor Day service project.

August 2011: Convocation

• Darell Hammond gave the Convocation Address.
• Mark D. Gearan gave Convocation Remarks.
• Betty Bayer gave Convocation Remarks.
• Caroline Dosky '12 gave Convocation Remarks.
• Jerimiah Booream-Phelps '12 gave Convocation Remarks.

May 2011: Commencement

• Patrick Corvington, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service gave the Commencement Address.
• Mark D. Gearan gave the Commencement Valedictory Remarks.
• Professor Jack Harris gave the Senior Dinner Faculty speech.
• Thomas S. Bozzuto gave the Hobart Launch remarks.

September 2010: Convocation

• Aaron S. Williams gave the Convocation address.

May 2010: Commencement

• Mark D. Gearan gave the Commencement Valedictory Remarks
• Lesley Adams gave the Commencement Prayer.
• Dan Glickman gave the Commencement address.
• Trustee Adele F. Schlotzhauer '83 gave the William Smith Senior Welcome 2010 address.
• Meggie Schmidt '10 gave the William Smith senior speech.
• David Butterini '10 gave the Hobart senior speech.
• Dr. Robert Gilman '70 spoke at the Hobart launch.

October 2009: President's Forum

• Dr. Cornel West

September 2009: Convocation

• President Mark D. Gearan gave the Convocation Opening.
• Provost Teresa Amott introduced the faculty speaker.
• Assistant Professor of Philosophy Carol Oberbrunner gave the faculty address.
• Thomas Tighe gave the convocation address.
• Hobart Dean Eugen Baer introduced the Hobart student speaker
• William Smith Dean Cerri Banks introduced the William Smith student speaker.
• Dan DeNose '10 and Regina Triplett '10 offered the student response.

May 2009: Commencement

• Carol M. Browner gave the commencement address.
• Shavonne Ward '09 gave the William Smith senior speech.
• Brendan Csaposs '09 gave the Hobart senior speech.
• President Mark D. Gearan gave the valedictory address.

April 2009: Elizabeth Blackwell Award and Benjamin Hale Dinner

• Rabbi Sally J. Priesand accepted the Elizabeth Blackwell Award.
• Joshua Unikel '07 offered the Alum address.

September 2008: Convocation

• President Mark D. Gearan gave the Convocation Opening
• Provost Teresa Amott introduced the faculty speaker.
• Eric Liu gave the convocation address.

May 2008: Commencement

• William Whitaker '73, L.H.D. '97 gave the commencement address.
• Felipe Estefan '08 gave the Hobart senior speech.
• Alyssa McDermott '08 gave the William Smith senior speech.
• President Mark D. Gearan gave the valedictory address.

April 2008: Charter Day and Elizabeth Blackwell Award Ceremony

• Dr. Wangari Maathai P '94, P '96, L.H.D. '94 accepted the Elizabeth Blackwell Award
• Alum address offered by Garry Mendez '96

October 2007:

• Dedication of Abbe Center for Jewish Life

August 2007: Convocation

• President Mark D. Gearan gave the Convocation Opening
• Chair of the Board David H. Deming offered his welcome
• Provost Teresa Amott introduced the faculty speaker
• Associate Professor Thomas Drennen gave the faculty address
• Vice Chair of the Board Maureen Collins Zupan '72, P'09 presented the President's Medal
• Congressman John Lewis gave the Convocation Address
• Felipe Estefan '08 and Shavonne Ward '09 offered the student response

May 2007: Commencement

• Chaplain Lesley Adams gave the baccalaureate address
• Jamie Agnello '07 offered a poem during the baccalaureate service
• President Mark D. Gearan gave the valedictory address
• Journalists Judy Woodruff and Albert R. Hunt gave the commencement address
• Allison Toepp '07 gave the William Smith senior speech
• Nick Cream '07 gave the Hobart senior speech
• Professor Scott McKinney gave the faculty address during the Student-Athlete Commencement.

April 27, 2007: Moving Up Day and Elizabeth Blackwell Award Ceremony

• Dr. Priscilla A. Schaffer '64, Sc.D. '94 accepted the Elizabeth Blackwell Award
• Jamie Agnello '07, William Smith Class 2007 legacy

April 13, 2007: Benjamin Hale Dinner

• Alum address by Brennan Coon '02

August 30, 2006: Convocation

• President Mark D. Gearan's Opening Remarks
• Student address by Hobart student trustee, Adam Chaput '07
• Student address by William Smith student trustee, Maggi Sliwinski '07
• Board Chair David Deming's Welcoming Remarks
• Teresa Amott's Provost's Reflections
• Dorothy Wickenden '76, executive editor of The New Yorker, delivered the Convocation Address

May 14, 2006: Commencement

• Chaplain Lesley Adams gave the baccalaureate address
• President Mark Gearan gave the valedictory address
• John King, CNN's Chief National Correspondent, gave the address
• Abogan Oluwayemisi '06 gave the William Smith senior speech
• Matthew Lyttle '06 gave the Hobart senior speech

April 22, 2006: Charter Day

• Dean Clarence E. Butler, keynote address

August 31, 2005: Convocation

• President Mark D. Gearan's Opening Remarks
• Rosie K. Mauk, director of AmeriCorps, delivered the Convocation Address
• Provost Teresa Amott's welcoming remarks
• Provessor Nick Ruth's faculty address
• Student address by William Smith student trustee, Oluwayemisi O. Abogan '06
• Student address by Hobart student trustee, Raul Nuñez '06

May 15, 2005: Commencement

• Chaplain Lesley Adams gave the Invocation and Benediction
• Dee Dee Myers, former White House press secretary, gave the address
• Regina Assetta '05 gave the William Smith senior speech
• Paul McNeil '05 gave the Hobart senior speech
• President Mark Gearan gave valedictory remarks

April 27, 2005: President's Forum speech by Eric Liu, Author and founder of the Guiding Lights Project, titled "What Diversity Can-and Can't-Teach Us?"

April 19, 2005: President's Forum speech by Ray Burghardt, Former U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam, titled "Vietnam and the U.S.: 30 Years After the War, 10 Years After Normalization."

April 18, 2005: President's Forum speech by Eleanor Clift, Newsweek contributing editor, titled "Women and Politics-From Suffrage to Hillary."

Feb. 3, 2005: Medal of Excellence Award ceremony, acceptance speech by Reynold Levy '66, president of Lincoln Center

Jan. 19, 2005: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, "Redeem the Dream" speech given by Rochester Mayor William Johnson

Sept. 24, 2004: Faculty Lunch with Dan Singal, professor of history, who presented "Understanding the 2004 Election: What History Can Tell Us"

Sept. 12, 2004: Chaplain Lesley M. Adams gave a sermon at Sage Chapel, Cornell University

Sept. 7, 2004: Convocation and Elizabeth Blackwell Award Presentation

• President Mark Gearan made Convocation remarks
• Jamie Agnello '07 read her poem "speak softly in this place"
• Linda D. Arrington '88 gave the history of the Elizabeth Blackwell Award
• Maureen Collins Zupan '72 presented the Elizabeth Blackwell Award honoree, Bishop Barbara Harris
• Matthew Lyttle '06 gave the Hobart student response
• Monique Peeler '05 gave the William Smith student response
• Eric Klaus, assistant professor of German, gave the faculty response
• Rt. Rev. Jack McKelvey, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester, gave the closing blessing

May 16, 2004: Commencement

• Chaplain Lesley Adams gave the Invocation and Benediction
• Chris Matthews, host of MSNBC's "Hardball," gave the address
• Evan Griswold '04 gave the Hobart senior speech
• Heather Harris '04 gave the Willaim Smith senior speech
• President Mark Gearan gave valedictory remarks

May 15, 2004: Chaplain Lesley Adams' Baccalaureate address, "Two Yellow Lines and a Dead Possum"

May 12, 2004: Assistant Professor Economics Jo Beth Mertens gave Mertens' Rules for College at the senior dinner.

April 24, 2004: Salisbury Center at Trinity Hall Dedication

• President Mark Gearan gave dedication remarks
• Charles H. Salisbury Jr. '63 gave dedication remarks.
• Jack Harris, professor of sociology, gave the speech on behalf of the faculty.
• Catherine Dowd-Reilly '04 gave the speech on behalf of the student body.

Sept. 9, 2003: Opening Ceremonies

• Rev. Lesley Adams, chaplain of Hobart College, gave the Invocation.
• Dean of Faculty and Provost Patricia Stranahan gave Academic Convocation remarks
• Loretta C. Ford received the Elizabeth Blackwell Award.
• President Mark Gearan and Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees Maureen Zupan presented Ford with the Blackwell medal.
• Julia James '04, representing William Smith College, gave a gift, a glass pine tree, to Ford. Representing Hobart College, Gregory Sand '05 gave Ford a clock.
• Judge Herbert Stern '58 dedicated Stern Hall. President Gearan named the other donors to the building. Scott McKinney, the William R. Kenan, Jr. Endowed Professor of Economics, gave the faculty response.
• Chair of the Board of Trustees Charles Salisbury introduced William F. Scandling '49 as Trustee Chair Emeritus.

May 12, 2003: Provost Stranahan's Commencement II Remarks.

May 11, 2003: Commencement

• Andrea Mitchell's Address, Commencement
• Hsin-Wei Liu '03 Hobart Senior Speech, Commencement
• Marie Fiero '03 William Smith Senior Speech, Commencement
• Mark Gearan's Valedictory 2003, Commencement

May 10, 2003: Retiring Professor of Mathematics Ann Oaks' Baccalaureate 2003 Speech

May 6, 2003: Ann Oaks, professor of mathematics, spoke at a brunch for William Smith seniors.

April 11, 2003: Elizabeth Perry '69, the Rosovsky Professor of Government at Harvard University, spoke on "Revolution Betrayed? The Fate of Revolutionary Militias in China (and Other Post-Revolutionary Societies)" for a symposium celebrating Asia. That evening, the Colleges officially dedicated the Elizabeth J. Perry '69 Asia Library.

March 24, 2003: Former Ambassador to the United Nations Nancy Soderberg's "The Future of International Relations" talk, given for the President's Forum lecture series and the "A New World Order? Iraq, Terrorism, and International Relations" symposium.

Feb. 27, 2003: Mark Gearan's keynote address at Tabor Academy, for the Academy's "Awareness Day," an event themed around service.

Feb. 2, 2003: Assembly Majority Leader Paul A. Tokasz's keynote address at the Napier Leadership Seminar dinner.

Nov. 20, 2002: Open Letter to President Bush and Congress, requesting immediate reform to solve the problems with the current presidential appointments process, signed by President Mark Gearan.

Oct. 28, 2002: Ambassador Charles Stith's "Peace, Security and Justice: a Post-9/11 Prescription" President's Forum lecture.

Sept. 3, 2002: Convocation

• President Mark D. Gearan's Welcome to Convocation.
• Dean of the Faculty and Provost Patricia Stranahan's Welcome to Convocation.
• Chaplain Lesley Adams' Opening and Benediction given at Convocation.
• Chairman of the Board of Trustees Charles H. Salisbury, Jr. '63 Introduction of Keynote Speaker, Convocation.
• The Honorable Herbert J. Stern '58 Keynote Address "Anthropomorphism", Convocation.
• Professor of Economics Alan Frishman's Faculty Response, given at Convocation.
• Director of Admissions Mara O'Laughlin '66 Staff Response, given at Convocation.
• Presentation of Gifts by Meg Marsh '03, president of William Smith Congress, and Ryan Gillmore '03, president of Hobart Student Government, Convocation.
• President Mark D. Gearan's Closing Remarks at Convocation.

Sept. 1, 2002: Dean of Hobart College Clarence Butler's address at the Matriculation Ceremony, Orientation.

May 13, 2002: Commencement II Provost Patricia Stranahan's Remarks

May 12, 2002: Commencement

• President Mark D. Gearan's Valedictory Address to the Classes of 2002.
• CNN Commentator Mark Shields' Commencement 2002 Address "The Wit and Wisdom of Mark Shields".
• Darya Welker '02 William Smith Senior Speech, "Happiness--Can you Achieve it?," Commencement.
• Shay Fitzpatrick '02 Hobart Senior Speech, "Big Shoes, Tiny Feet," Commencement.

May 11, 2002: Baccalaureate

• Legendary singer Judy Collins' Baccalaureate Address to the Classes of 2002.
• Introduction of Judy Collins, Baccalaureate.

Nov. 29, 2001: Ambassador Alan Keyes' "A Conservative's View: Restoring America After September 11" President's Forum lecture.

Feb. 12, 2001: Political analyst George Stephanopoulos' "An Inside View of Politics, the Presidency, and the Press" President's Forum lecture.

Sept. 4, 2001: Convocation

• Madeleine K. Albright's receipt of the Elizabeth Blackwell Award and Convocation speech, Convocation.
• Madeleine K. Albright Question and Answer Conversations, Convocation.

Sept. 1, 2001: Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and Former President Bill Clinton's visit.

May 13, 2001: Commencement

• Moderator and managing editor of "Washington Week" Gwen Ifill "Exceed Your Dreams," Commencement.
• President Mark Gearan "Valedictory to the Classes of 2001," Commencement.

June 11, 2000: Commencement

• U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Richard C. Holbrooke, Commencement.
• President Mark D. Gearan "Valedictory to the Classes of 2000," Commencement.

Jan. 11, 2000: First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton's panel discussion for the President's Forum lecture series.

Oct. 22, 1999: Mark Gearan's Presidential Inauguration

• President Mark D. Gearan, Inaugural speech.
• Greetings from the faculty: Associate Professor of Art Elena Ciletti, Mark D. Gearan Inauguration.
• Tribute from Washington, D.C. (transcribed from video presentation), Mark D. Gearan Inauguration.

Oct. 15, 1999: "When Anthony Met Stanton" dedication remarks by sculptor A.E. Ted Aub.

June 14, 1998: Author and feminist Gloria Steinem, Commencement.

Feb. 9, 1996: Author and feminist Gloria Steinem, "Education from the Inside Out," Blackwell Award presentation ceremony for Wilma Mankiller.

June 13, 1993: Author Eric M. A. Lax '66 gave the Commencement address

May 26, 1974: Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. gave the Commencement address.

1929: Franklin Delano Roosevelt gave the Phi Beta Kappa address.