The
Melly Era

President Mark D. Gearan sees the Melly Institute as a catalyst for a new era at Hobart and William Smith — one that builds on the momentum of three centuries of commitment to the liberal arts educational model. Through the Melly Institute, HWS is expanding its signature strengths: ever-advancing curriculum, immersive faculty mentorship, personalized career coaching, guaranteed internships, robust professional communities and unprecedented access to industry leaders.

In 2025, when HWS announced the landmark $70 million gift from Tom and his wife Judith Hershey Melly L.H.D. '16, the campus reaction was immediate and unmistakable: surprise, awe and a dawning realization that HWS had opened a new chapter marked not just by philanthropy on an historic scale, but by a transformative vision for how a liberal arts institution can shape students' lives over the next century.

The Mellys' intent was not simply to invest in infrastructure or endowment, but to create a new center of gravity for experiential learning — a place where students would not only study ideas but apply them in real time to solve problems, launch ventures and advance careers.

Through the Melly Institute, two new faculty positions — one in marketing and one in accounting and finance — will be established to strengthen the academic program. These roles will expand course offerings, support curriculum development, and provide students with a more comprehensive foundation in key business disciplines.

Since the Institute's launch, the campus has significantly expanded its capacity to support students' career and leadership development. The Salisbury Center has increased staffing and programming to engage students earlier and more intentionally in career exploration, entrepreneurship and leadership training.

The expansion of programming is evident across multiple initiatives, including the Professionals-in-Residence program, which brings leaders in business, finance, technology, artificial intelligence and manufacturing directly into classrooms and advising conversations. Melly resources are now also directed at supporting and expanding the student-led pre-professional clubs — including Artificial Intelligence, Consulting, Engineering, Health Professions, Investment, Pre-Law, Real Estate and Design, and Women in Business and Leadership.

Career Trek programs have likewise expanded, offering immersive experiences in Boston for students pursuing STEM careers and additional treks focused on business. This spring, students enrolled in "Nonprofit Organizations, Philanthropy and Impact" — taught by Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning Executive Director Katie Flowers and President Gearan — will travel to New York City to visit nonprofit organizations.

Technical skill development opportunities continue to grow. The Salisbury Center's Scott MacPhail is teaching an LSAT course through the Reader's College format, allowing students to earn credit while they prepare for law school, while HWS General Counsel Lou Guard '07 is expanding HWS' law school affiliations by leading a group of students to the University at Albany this spring. Additional skill-building and certifications aligned with employer demand include training in Excel, Capital IQ Pro, Python, Adobe, Fundamental Edge and Bloomberg Market Concepts.