StatementsA Message of Gratitude to Faculty and Staff

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May 23, 2025

Dear Faculty and Staff,

Before we break for Memorial Day weekend, I write to thank the HWS community for an exceptional year and the extraordinary weekend of Commencement related events and activities. It was a successful Commencement filled with gratitude and hope as we honored the Class of 2025. 

Commencement – including Senior Week, the Send-Off and Launch, Baccalaureate, and the myriad other celebrations that comprise graduation – is a milestone that reflects the collective efforts of our entire campus community. I extend my thanks to the many offices and individuals who played a role in making Commencement successful – from the Registrar’s Office and Buildings & Grounds, to Advancement & Parent Relations, Campus Life, Campus Safety, Communications, the Office of the Deans, Dining Services, IT Services, Spiritual Engagement and beyond. Your hard work and dedication created an unforgettable experience for our graduates and their families.

The speeches this year were particularly noteworthy. Former TIME Editor in Chief Nancy Gibbs encouraged our graduates to pay attention and be deliberate about the information they consume and trust. Senior speakers Aaron McClintock and Anjalee Wanduragala urged their peers to remember the legacy they leave behind and to consider the ways in which they think about home. All of the speeches are aggregated on this webpage.  

During the ceremony, we presented the Elizabeth Blackwell Award to Nancy Gibbs and awarded honorary degrees to Patti Blue ’77, Geoff Herd, Mary Jane Poole, and Janet and Steve Wyckoff for their invaluable contributions to our community. We also took time to remember two students we lost too soon – Veronica Ashby ’25 and Benjamin Hutchinson ’25, making them honorary members of the Class of 2025. 

With Reunion just two weeks away (June 6-8), there is a great deal of work in progress to welcome the nearly 1,000 alumni and their guests planning to attend. I hope to see you there. If not, I wish you a wonderful summer that provides opportunities for rest and renewal.

Above all, as this cohort of students goes forth, I want to thank you – our faculty and staff – for mentoring and challenging them, and for caring deeply about their futures. Your commitment creates the relationship-rich education that empowers our graduates to lead lives of consequence. 

Sincerely,

Mark D. Gearan
President