HWS News
22 May 2026 • Alums HWS Launches Student-Powered Campus Store
HWS will operate the campus bookstore with a new, innovative and student-led model.
This summer, HWS will launch a new chapter for the HWS Campus Store, transforming the retail space and giving students meaningful responsibilities in operations, merchandising and marketing.
After several years partnering with Barnes & Noble College to operate the campus store, HWS will transition retail operations to a self-operated model under the leadership of Assistant Vice President for Campus Life Kristen Tapscott. The change follows conversations with students, faculty, staff and peer institutions about how the store could better reflect HWS values, create meaningful learning opportunities and serve the campus community with a variety of products.
Course materials and textbooks will continue to be provided through Barnes & Noble’s HWS Fulfill program, which provides students all-inclusive access to required course materials through a per-course fee structure. Faculty will continue using the same adoption process, timelines and systems already in place.
The reimagined campus store will combine professional retail management with hands-on student leadership. Students will help shape merchandising, operations, marketing and customer engagement while earning internship credit through the Business Management and Entrepreneurship Department.
Student leadership team Caio Paiva ’29, Paige Messite ’28, Jasmine Goncalves Piment ’27 and Grace Rund ’27 gather for a photo.
“A student-powered campus store offers versatility in marketing and rapid-insights from actual customers right here at HWS,” says Associate Professor and Co-Chair of Business Management and Entrepreneurship Craig Talmage. “Among the many avenues to build skills at HWS, the student-powered campus store is a signature moment to turn classroom knowledge and professional development skills into a reality.”
The new model also creates greater flexibility in what the store can offer. By bringing retail operations in-house, HWS will be able to curate lower-cost merchandise, expand offerings beyond traditional bookstore products and feature student and local entrepreneurs through rotating displays and pop-up opportunities.
“The new student-powered Campus Store will be more than just a spirit shop," says Vice President of Campus Life Becca Morris. "Instead, the experience will tell the story of our campus community, shaped by student voices, and the success of our alumni entrepreneurs!”
Among the featured businesses will be Em’s Threads, founded by Emily Rourke ’24, who launched the sustainable fashion company after winning the HWS Pitch Contest and a $10,000 startup grant in 2024. Since graduating, Rourke has grown operations in South Boston and currently employs 12 staff members.
Students involved with the campus store will also help identify products by peer entrepreneurs, artists and makers to feature in the space.
Steven Smaldone, HWS Campus Store Manager
“I am excited to become a member of the Hobart and William Smith family and bring a high standard retail experience to the campus store,” says Smaldone. “It is my goal to provide a desired destination for students, staff, alumni and the local community.”
Construction and renovations to the campus store will begin this summer. The improvements, made possible by the Andrew Zornow Memorial ADA Fund, will make the space fully ADA accessible, with a lift added to the front entrance, and a secondary lift to access the new community space on the 2nd floor.
During Reunion, while renovations are underway, alumni and visitors will still be able to shop HWS merchandise at a Pop-Up Campus Store held in The L. Thomas Melly Academic Center of the Warren Hunting Smith Library.
Conceptual renderings are provided by SWBR.
Interior Renderings
