Opening Session Panelist Biographies
President Mark D. Gearan has led Hobart and William Smith through a transformative era of growth, national recognition and renewed institutional ambition – all guided by an unwavering commitment to student success and civic purpose.
Gearan first served as President of HWS from 1999 to 2017, a period defined by expanded academic offerings, increased student engagement and strengthened community partnerships. After stepping down, he served as President in Residence at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and was later appointed Director of the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School, where he advanced national conversations on public service and leadership.
In 2022, Gearan returned to Hobart and William Smith. Under his leadership, HWS launched Further Together: The Campaign for Our Third Century in 2024 – a bold initiative to raise $400 million in support of students, faculty and the future of the institution. Already, the campaign has secured more than $325 million in new philanthropy, including a historic $70 million gift from L. Thomas Melly ’52, L.H.D. ’02 and Judith Hershey Melly L.H.D. ’16, one of the largest to any college or university in the nation that year. This transformational investment is expanding scholarship support and establishing the Melly Institute for Business, Innovation and Leadership.
Similarly, a $25 million gift from Cynthia Gelsthorpe Fish ’82, L.H.D. ’23 and John F. Fish is advancing the future of STEM education at HWS through the creation of the Fish Center for the Sciences, a 40,000-square-foot integrated hub for science research and instruction slated for completion in Fall 2027.
During Gearan’s tenure, Hobart and William Smith has earned national accolades from The Wall Street Journal, The Princeton Review and Washington Monthly for excellence in the student experience, alumni engagement, internship support and career development. With a strong return on investment, 95% of graduates are employed or enrolled in graduate school within four months of graduation.
Nationally recognized for his leadership in higher education and public service, Gearan has held key roles in government and national politics. He served as White House Communications Director, Deputy Chief of Staff and Campaign Manager for Clinton/Gore ’92, as well as Executive Director of the Democratic Governors Association. In 1995, President Bill Clinton appointed him the 14th Director of the Peace Corps.
Gearan serves on the board of directors for Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights and Public Agenda and was Vice Chair of the National Commission on Military, National and Public Service, established by the U.S. Congress. He is a former chair of both National Campus Compact and the Corporation for National and Community Service.
A cum laude graduate of Harvard College and Georgetown University Law Center, Gearan holds 13 honorary degrees in recognition of his contributions to education and service.
He and his wife, Mary Herlihy Gearan, are active members of both the campus and Geneva communities. They host a weekly open house at their home, welcoming students, faculty, staff and neighbors. The Gearans are the proud parents of two daughters, Madeleine and Kathleen ’21.
Madison Ayers is a sophomore from Los Angeles, California, majoring in Sociology. She serves as a Writing Colleague, acting as a bridge between faculty and students. She intends to pursue Africana Studies as a minor and complete the 3+3 Law Early Admission Program with Cornell University. Madison also has a twin sister at HWS who is studying Marine Biology.
Kelly Howe is a senior from Deerfield, Massachusetts, majoring in International Relations. A captain of the William Smith Ice Hockey team, she is also a Lead Teaching Fellow and member of two honor societies. She serves as a Co-Civic Leader for HWS Votes. Kelly studied language and culture in Kutaisi, Georgia, and previously conducted research on narration in conflict-affected regions, which she presented at the ISA Conference in Chicago.
Joe Stein ’86 is Chair of the HWS Board of Trustees and Partner and Managing Director at Solomon Partners, a New York–based investment banking firm. He previously served as Executive Director and Head of the Private Placement Group at UBS Warburg and held corporate finance roles at Citicorp. At Hobart, he was a two-sport athlete in lacrosse and football, earning All-America honors in both. He majored in Political Science at HWS and earned his MBA from the University of Rochester’s Simon School of Business.
Tim Trakhachov is a senior Architecture major with minors in Entrepreneurship, Art History and Studio Art. Originally from Kyiv, Ukraine, his international experiences inform his passion for design. At HWS, he founded the Art & Design Collective and led a community mural project. He will attend the Yale School of Architecture.
Jett Wright ’23 is an agent at Topnotch Management, a boutique talent agency representing top tennis and pickleball athletes, where he began as a junior agent after graduating from HWS in 2023. Originally from Austin, Texas, he is now based in Cleveland, Ohio. At HWS, he captained the tennis team, worked in Athletic Communications, and interned as an Assistant Video Director with the Kalamazoo Growlers. He majored in Media and Society with a minor in Entrepreneurial Studies.
Professor of History and Asian Studies Lisa Yoshikawa’s scholarly interests include the Japanese empire, knowledge production, global history, history of science and environmental history. She’s currently working on multiple book-length projects surrounding the Japanese empire’s history of conservation science. She earned her M.A. and Ph.D. from Yale University and was recently awarded the Kinghorn Fellowship in recognition of her commitment to global scholarship, mentorship and international education.