In commemoration of the William Smith Centennial, a facility at 603 South Main Street was dedicated as an innovative space where HWS students could gain access to coursework, presentations, workshops and community projects that would deepen their understanding of leadership. Since its inception, the Centennial Center has been a symbol for co-curricular programs that engage, develop and ready students for future contributions of value, character and significance. In 2007, the Center was renovated and endowed as part of a historic Campaign for the Colleges, including the lead gift from Trustee Cynthia Gelsthorpe Fish '82, in honor of the William Smith Centennial.
"Since William Smith College began and Hobart and William Smith became coordinate Colleges, our alumni and alumnae have pioneered in everything from English to economics to history," said Fish during the building's dedication in November 2008. "Now, as we cut the ribbon on the Centennial Center, we will become leaders among leadership programs across the United States."
"This building speaks to us," Fish said. "Its message is clear: leadership is a value that will carry from this Centennial well into the next."
Since its inaugural year, the Centennial Center has grown in programming as well as staff. In addition to the HWS Leads certificate program, the Center, invites noteworthy speakers to campus for aLeader in Residence series, sponsors student projects with leadership fellowships and provides leadership development for local elementary school students through the Youth Leadership College.
In 2011, the Centennial Center organized the first Pitch Competition, marking the Center’s expansion into entrepreneurship by embedding problem-solving and idea generation into the creation of potential new ventures. This intersection of leadership, entrepreneurship and innovation has led to programs such as the HWS IdeaLab and Opell Start-Up Fund Committee – programs that offer rich, comprehensive experiences and produce compelling student outcomes. The Centennial Center officially changed its name to include Leadership, Entrepreneurship and Innovation in 2018.
Today, the Centennial Center is a dynamic operation that offers unparalleled experiences and resources for young leaders to develop global awareness, community focus and the skills to transform conviction into change. With its collection of educators, the Center has fulfilled the mission of the original visionaries by becoming a point of distinction for the Colleges.
The Centennial Center is a dynamic center that prepares leaders and entrepreneurs to drive innovation. Through experiential education, the Centennial Center provides opportunities to explore and apply theoretical and practical knowledge in leadership and entrepreneurship.
Vision Statement
The Centennial Center strives to be a catalyst for meaningful change by providing transformative experiences for students, faculty, staff and community members. As a comprehensive resource, the Centennial Center adds value to the liberal arts education by challenging individuals to engage with new thinking in leadership and entrepreneurship.
centennial center staff
KATHLEEN FLOWERS
Executive Director
Kathleen (Katie) Flowers holds a B.A. in Communications from Stonehill College and an Ed.M. in Higher Education Administration from the University at Buffalo. Since joining Hobart and William Smith Colleges in 2004, she has provided strategic leadership for three key initiatives: the Center for Community Engagement and Service-Learning, the Centennial Center for Leadership, and Geneva 2030. In her role, Ms. Flowers oversees the Colleges’ service-learning and community-based research programs, the Summer of Service internship initiative, and facilitates both the Faculty Service-Learning Advisory Council and the Community Advisory Council. Her work with the Centennial Center and Geneva 2030 is especially meaningful, as the principles of servant leadership have guided her throughout her career.
An AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteer in Service to America) alumna, Ms. Flowers is also active in the local community, serving on several nonprofit advisory boards. Among her professional highlights are collaborative efforts with community stakeholders to create the Geneva Community Lakefront Playground and her contributions to various publications on student civic engagement and leadership development. Her work has been recognized with numerous awards, including the inaugural Dorinne Maxwell Memorial Citizenship Prize (2007), the Hai Timiai Staff Award from the William Smith Honor Society (2009), and honorary membership in the William Smith Class of 2011. She was also honored with the Geneva Chamber of Commerce Young Athena Award (2013), the Catholic Charities Sharing the Light Award (2018), the Geneva Boys and Girls Club’s Honorary Club Member of the Year (2019), and the Agnes Slosson Lewis Award from the League of Women Voters of New York State (2023).
Emily Kana '12
Associate Director
Emily Kana holds a B.A. in English from Hobart and William Smith and an M.Ed. in Secondary Education from Boston College. She is currently a Master of Science in Management candidate at HWS. Kana previously worked for HWS as the program coordinator at the Salisbury Center for Career, Professional and Experiential Education, as well as the assistant coach for the William Smith swimming and diving team. Following her professional experience in higher education, she focused her efforts on primary education, where she served as an assistant teacher at West Street school in Geneva, supporting several bilingual kindergarten classrooms. After pursuing her master’s degree, Kana taught both middle school and high school English ranging from grades 7-12 in the greater Boston area in addition to coaching both men’s and women’s swimming.
As the associate director at the Centennial Center, Kana oversees the Centennial Scholars program, the HWS Leads program, as well as the Degree with Leadership Distinction Program. She is the co-instructor for Leads 250: Leadership and Peer Mentoring in Theory and Practice.
Rebecca Mantione '25
Graduate Assistant
Rebecca Mantione (she/her) is a graduate student in the Master of Science in Management program at HWS. She also attended HWS for her undergraduate studies, earning a Bachelor of Science in computer science with a double minor in mathematics and economics. As a graduate student, Rebecca remains deeply engaged in campus life as a member of the William Smith field hockey team, a coach for the William Smith field hockey camps and clinics, and a member of the William Smith Society of Women in Economics. She also works as a student technician at the IT Service Desk and serves as support staff for the Athletics Department. Beyond campus, Rebecca is an active mentor in the Geneva community through the Girls Who Code program. At the Centennial Center, Rebecca works as a graduate community assistant, where she manages communications, social media and outreach.
Cori Bohan '27
Cohen Fellow
Cori Bohan (she/her) is double majoring in Sociology and Peace Studies. Passionate about fostering creativity and innovation, she serves as a Centennial Center Entrepreneurial Peer Coach, where she helps guide students through the IdeaLab and the Pitch Competition, working to bring their ideas to life. She predominantly focuses on storyboarding, presentation and public speaking. As a former Pitch Finalist in 2024, she is committed to supporting students to enable them to have an incredible experience. Outside of the Centennial Center, Cori loves to be involved in the campus community. She serves as the Civic Leader of Outreach for CCESL, is a Writing Colleague, a First-Year Mentor, an O’Laughlin Ambassador, and recently, had the opportunity to coach soccer at Geneva High School. Cori is so grateful to be a part of the Centennial Center team, and is thankful to the Centennial Center for their dedication to spark innovation and community at HWS!
Current PLEN CHAPTER Leaders
Maeghan Mahoney '26
Maeghan (Maggie) Mahoney (she/her) is a junior at HWS and is from Phelps, New York. She is a PLEN Chapter Leader, a student intern at CCESL, and co-Civic Leader for Day of Service. She also has experience interning in the community at BluePrint Geneva. As a Biology major, she is interested in public health and health policy. Through these fields, Maggie’s goal is for PLEN to be a platform on-campus to facilitate diverse conversations around policy.
Hailey Galvan '26
Hailey Galvan (she/her) is a junior at HWS from California. She is a sociology major with a double minor in entrepreneurial studies and data analytics. Hailey has a passion for connection and mentorship, as shown through her roles as the Junior PLEN Chapter Leader, class of ’26 Student Trustee, and involvement in the First-Year mentorship program. While at HWS, Hailey hopes to create a culture where every student feels connected to the school and their peers.
Maeghan Mahoney '26
Hailey Galvan '26