HWS News
13 November 2025 Senator Cooney and the Melly Institute Connect Students to the Future of Mobility
Waymo’s visit to HWS showcased how artificial intelligence, policy and a liberal arts education converge to shape tomorrow’s transportation systems.
The Hobart and William Smith community got a firsthand look at the future of mobility when Waymo, the autonomous driving technology company, brought one of its self-driving cars to campus on Tuesday, Nov. 11. Parked outside the Scandling Campus Center, visitors explored how artificial intelligence is transforming the way people move.
The visit was made possible through a collaboration between New York State Senator and HWS Trustee Jeremy A. Cooney ’04 (D-56), Assistant Vice President for Career Services Brandi Ferrara and the HWS AI Club. The event was sponsored by the newly established Melly Institute for Business, Innovation and Leadership, which connects students with hands-on experiences at the intersection of technology, entrepreneurship and leadership.
Coinciding with the season’s first snowfall, light flurries drifted across campus as students made their way in and out of Saga Dining Hall for lunch, many stopping to sit in the self-driving car parked outside the Scandling Campus Center. The scene drew attention beyond campus as well, with three Rochester, N.Y. television stations sending crews to film the vehicle and interview Senator Cooney and HWS students about the demonstration.
For AI Club President Dominic Schimizzi ’27, the Waymo visit reflected exactly what the club was created to do: connect students to real-world innovations while encouraging thoughtful engagement with emerging technology.
“There’s a real need to help students understand both what AI can and can’t do,” Schimizzi says. “It’s a tool and like any tool, it works best when you know how to use it effectively. Our club isn’t about pushing AI, it’s about giving people knowledge, perspective and confidence to use it responsibly.”
Waymo Visit to Campus
AI Club Vice President Zackary Hanna ’28 says the demonstration deepened his passion for autonomous technology.
“Seeing Waymo in person reinforced my excitement for the future of self-driving vehicles,” Hanna says. “It was a rare chance to connect classroom learning to real-world innovation.”
As the chair of New York’s Transportation Committee, Senator Cooney has introduced legislation to bring autonomous ride-share services to the state. He says the visit offered students an early encounter with technology that could soon be part of daily life.
“When HWS students graduate, they may see these vehicles on Geneva or New York City streets,” Cooney says. “I want them to have that exposure now, especially at a liberal arts college that encourages students to think about the environmental, social and ethical dimensions of innovation.”
Ferrara emphasizes that connecting students with emerging industries is essential preparation for the evolving job market.
“Waymo’s visit not only showcased cutting-edge technology, but highlights the expanding intersections between AI, engineering and a liberal arts education,” says Ferrara.
The Melly Institute continues to play a central role in facilitating those connections — ensuring that every HWS student has access to mentorship, experiential learning and real-world innovation that prepare them to lead in a rapidly changing economy.
Waymo’s mission is to make transportation safer and easier through fully autonomous vehicles powered by advanced artificial intelligence, sensors and mapping systems. In addition, Waymo focuses on building a future of sustainable transportation by expanding electric vehicle access and walkable, bikeable and transit-orientated neighborhoods. Waymo has tested its vehicles in diverse driving conditions across the United States and currently operates Waymo One, a commercial ride-hailing service using self-driving cars, in cities such as Phoenix, Ariz., San Francisco, Calif., and Los Angeles, Calif.
