HWS News
30 July 2025 Welcoming New Staff in the Centennial Center
Emily Rogowski Kana '12 joins the Centennial Center as Associate Director.
Emily Rogowski Kana '12 is the new Associate Director of the Centennial Center for Leadership. A 2012 graduate of Hobart and William Smith, Kana returns to campus with nearly a decade of experience in education and a deep connection to the HWS and Geneva communities.
Kana’s career has spanned both secondary and higher education, with professional experience helping students develop their voices as leaders through written expression and interdisciplinary learning. Most recently, she was a member of the English faculty at Thayer Academy.
“We are thrilled to welcome Emily back to HWS,” says Katie Flowers, Executive Director of the Centers for Community Engagement and Service Learning and the Centennial Center for Leadership. “As an alumna who has already made a meaningful impact in education, she brings both experience and heart to her new role. Her approach to teaching, leadership development and community engagement is a perfect fit for the Centennial Center’s mission.”
In her new role, Kana will support leadership programming through HWS Leads programming, HWS Leadership with Distinction certificate, the Centennial Scholars and HWS’ chapter of the Public Leadership Education Network (PLEN).
Kana says she’s excited to be a part of the Centennial Center’s legacy of cultivating thoughtful and courageous leaders. “Returning to HWS feels like coming home,” she says. “HWS gave me the foundation to grow as a leader, scholar and citizen. I’m grateful to once again be part of this incredible campus and the Geneva community that were so informative in my learning and which I care so deeply about. I’m especially excited to help students develop their unique leadership voices, just as my HWS mentors once did for me.”
Kana graduated with a B.A. in English. She was a member of the William Smith swimming and diving team, worked in the Office of Admissions and co-founded a theme house dedicated to women’s health and cancer research. She received her master’s in teaching from Boston College Lynch School. She worked at HWS from 2014-2017, holding roles in the Office of Financial Aid and the Salisbury Center for Career, Professional and Experiential Education. She also served as assistant coach to the William Smith swimming and diving team.
