Hobart and William Smith Colleges

COMMENCEMENT 2026

President Mark D. Gearan
Valedictory Address
May 17, 2026

It was August 18, 2022 – four years ago – right about on this spot when we first met.

It was your first day of college.  Mary and I stood right about here to meet you and your parents and families. Some of you had arrived early for fall sports. Some had arrived from nearby cities, others traveling from across the world.

We were both starting here at Hobart and William Smith.

Admittedly, I had a little experience at HWS prior to that –

But we started here together – on that day. Together.

And Mary and I are grateful to the Class of 2026 for joining us on that day and on this journey – for welcoming us back to campus.

I am grateful for your engagement on campus – in the classroom and outside the classroom in Geneva and around the world – and making this special place, and even better place. Thank you.

In some ways, it’s gone so fast and it’s hard to believe that those four falls and four springs are complete.

In other ways, it seems like that August day was a long, long time ago. Given all that you have experienced and learned, given all the changes in our nation and the world.

When we first met four years ago – we were all coming out of COVID that had so affected your high school years and college search.  

Think of it:  Joe Biden was President, 

Francis was the Pope, 

Elizabeth was Queen, 

Russia had just invaded Ukraine, 

And the #1 song was Heat Waves by the Glass Animals.  

On this campus – Eaton Hall was still standing and Hobart had never won a national hockey championship!   

What a difference four years makes. Or as Maggie Mahoney reminded us in her beautiful speech the times they are a changing.  

But it was your class that brought your energy and talents as we started new majors in Business, Management and Entrepreneurship, Public Health, Environmental Science and Bodies Disability and Justice. You undertook new minors created in these four years in Data Analytics, Data Science and Global Studies among others.

And you were the class the ushered in new athletic teams – already with impressive records

HWS Alpine Skiing, 

Hobart Swimming and Diving, 

William Smith Bowling, 

William Smith Volleyball --- 

and Hobart Baseball whose 14 Seniors are not with us as they are competing in NCAA tournament where they won their first ever game and made history for Hobart baseball.

You have lived thru many changes, advances and setbacks in these past four years and Artificial Intelligence is also a significant development of these past four years.

Think about it – Chat GPT had not officially launched when we shook hands here in August of 2022 – it would three months later at the end of November.

And in this time as all of us have learned and studied more about AI – we can observe the pluses and minuses of this new technology. Exciting as it will make research more efficient, streamline processes, exciting health care implications with better diagnoses.

And we also reflect on the concerns for critical thinking skills, biases, impacts to our environment, privacy and ethical concerns and impact on the economy.

And certainly, this is not the moment to opine on the utility and concerns for Artificial Intelligence.

But what I do know, and what I do believe is that no matter what the future of AI is in the workplace and in our society,

One thing is clear:  you can still be a better person.

Some may say machines will have all the answers – but you can still be a better person.

And this platform party and our four honorary degree recipients offer examples of lives well led. They offer you four examples of individuals who have worked each day to be a better person and advance their community, their parish, their nation and the global philanthropic world.

Lillian Collins – served this institution for decades and continued her good work for our students and the Geneva community into retirement.

For 50 years, Father Thomas Mull has led a life of faith serving the Finger Lakes region and serving as a respected spiritual leader in our area.

Lieutenant General Jack Woodward committed his career in service to the defense of our nation. Decorated for his leadership as a three-star Lieutenant General and service to the greater good.

And Dame Louise Richardson models the life and achievement of a First-Generation college student – first woman to lead Oxford University; first woman to lead St. Andrew’s University; first woman to serve as Princeton’s Vice Chancellor; first woman to serve as president of the Carnegie Corporation.

Four individuals. Four stories. Four pathways.

All of these individuals are making a difference, giving back and making this world a better, safer, more just and empathic place. All of them living the Vietnamese proverb that Randy Hong offered:  when drinking water, remember the source from which it came.

Take these examples and all the examples you have from your faculty, coaches, staff and Geneva neighbors to lead a better life.  We need you out there.

Heed the advice of Dame Richardson – that “building community is your real task.”

You now have what only 7% of the world enjoys – a college degree.

Use it wisely. Use it as a force for good.

Use it to create and disseminate knowledge.

Use it in service of your profession, your community and your family.

And may your liberal arts and sciences degree arm you with the critical thinking skills that will be essential for the century ahead.

May the global perspective you gained through studying abroad or engaging vital topics here in Geneva assist you to address the challenges of our interconnected world. 

May your time spent in community service here in Geneva continue to motivate you to make a difference.

So good luck – and Godspeed.

Go out there and make a difference.

Go out there – and be a better person.