Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Spheres of Influence

Over the course of more than 40 years, Michael E. Rawlins ’80, P’16 devoted himself to sharing his time, knowledge and experience with the HWS community. Through his deep engagement as a mentor, Rawlins helped scores of students and alumni cultivate their unique talents and translate their passions into meaningful careers and lives of consequence.

BY ANDREW WICKENDEN ’09

"I’ve found over the years that mentoring is my passion. It is that thing I get most energy from. Seeing a student do that hard thing — walking into the Salisbury Center, résumé in hand, to talk to someone who graduated 40 years ago — I try to meet that courage with empathy and curiosity. As a user experience professional, I start with that liberal arts side of connecting the dots: observing how people do what they do, listening very closely, very curiously, to get to why they’re motivated; once you understand that, you can make the process much more engaging. I talk about the journey I’ve had in many different domains, and my comfort with the fact that there are things I do for a living now that I could never have seen when I was in my field of study at the Colleges. I try to convey that the world will keep changing and that I have the tools — HWS has given me the critical thinking tools — to always continue to evolve. I take students through this journey so that they feel comfortable saying, ‘Wow, I can do that too — there’s no ceiling. I can do anything.’"

- Michael Rawlins ’80, P’16, Head of the Enterprise Content and Broadcast Media Design Team, The Walt Disney Company

 

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Gregory J. Vincent ’83,
President, Talladega College:
"I hit the Big Brother Jackpot as a first year at Hobart. In a great cohort of seniors, Mike stood out because he was a stellar scholar athlete and even better person. We had a strong connection — his cousin and dear family friend, Bronx Chief Judge Laura G. Douglas ’79, encouraged me to attend Hobart and Mike took me under his wing. He inspired me and many others with his encouraging words and deeds. I am grateful that we have remained friends and brothers over these 40-plus years and that he serves HWS as a Trustee. I used Mike’s example to pay it forward and mentored the next generation of HWS students."

Alex Kittelberger ’13,
Software Engineer, ESPN:
"What has made Michael’s mentorship truly exceptional is the genuine care and dedication he has shown. From the moment we connected, his unwavering support and mentorship have been instrumental in shaping my career. Michael helped me navigate my last couple years at HWS, then assisted me in landing a dream job working for ESPN. It is amazing that one connection at HWS over 10 years ago has paved my career path. I am truly grateful for Michael; his impact is immeasurable."

Stefan Thompson ’13,
Head Coach, Hobart Basketball:
"Michael has been in my corner countless times — whether we’re having a check-in conversation, grabbing a coffee during his frequent trips to Geneva or supporting our team on road trips. Michael consistently invests in the people at HWS by sharing his personal and professional experiences along with his robust knowledge with those he encounters."

Elizabeth Moore ’20,
AI Engineer, Collins Aerospace:
"During our first conversation, we instantly connected through our interest in technology and our love of soccer. Ever since then, Mr. Rawlins has been a constant supporter in every step of my journey, from his help finding an internship to frequently checking in to give advice at my current job. I am forever grateful that we crossed paths, and for all that he has done to help me apply what I experienced and learned at HWS."

Caitlin Chichora ’21,
Wealth Planning Associate, Nicola Wealth:
"Michael embodies the magic of the Colleges: community-oriented, spirited, focused, giving and creative. To have someone you look up to take such interest in your future is such an honor and is something that can only be fostered through an HWS bond. Even through times when I was struggling personally, Michael would make himself available. I can easily say that he will forever be considered one of HWS’ greatest."

Jonathan Phillips ’21,
M&A Analyst, AIG:
"The thing that’s most special about Michael is his willingness to put himself in a mentorship position; if he has a perspective to add, he wants to be a part of it. I met him when I was 13 through a program that brought students from other states to his town, which had a particularly well-funded public education system. Being away from home in high school, I spent a lot of time with Michael; he was a big support system — not just academically but in life in general. For me, particularly being a first-generation student, having someone in my corner who’s had career changes, high-level positions and life experience is invaluable."

Jackson Meshanic ’23,
Power Forward, Avanti Mondorf, Luxembourg Basketball Federation:
"Now that I’m playing basketball in Europe, I have to give Michael a lot of credit for inspiring the mental strength and adaptability it takes to move to another country. I’m usually a pretty motivated guy but can get frustrated when I’m not progressing as much as I think I could. That was the first big issue that Michael and I tackled, working toward that ‘growth mindset’ — that there are different ways to approach a problem and with hard work, you can find a way."

July Winters ’24,
Architecture and Media & Society Major:
"Every time we meet there’s so much to catch up on, and I leave with a new sense of direction and steps to take. Michael has really helped me expand my network and narrow my focus. I’m so grateful to have him as a mentor."