Juxtaposing the ampersand:
Members of the W&M community found inspiration in the W&M ampersand as they formulated the College's strategic plan.
Behind the vision: Juxtaposing the W&M ampersand
| November 2, 2009
Under the leadership of President Taylor Reveley, members of
the broad William & Mary community last year joined in an effort to begin
construction of a strategic plan. The purpose of the plan is to advance the
College to the pinnacle of liberal-arts based research universities in the
nation.
At one point, community members began to envision the
aspirations that William & Mary uniquely is positioned to achieve through
the vehicle of the ampersand. They stared at it. They flipped it. Around it, they
juxtaposed characteristics of the College in ways that highlighted the
university’s special strengths while projecting them into the future. They came
up with the following ampersand array:
William & Mary
Celebrating tradition & Forging change
Alma mater of a nation & Citizen of the world
Dedicated to teaching & Devoted to research
Large enough for excellence & Small enough for community
Whole-heartedly undergraduate & Strategically professional
and graduate
Supported by alumni committed to serve & Inspired by
students prepared to lead
During the summer of 2009, editors within the office of
university relations attempted to “put-some-flesh-on,“ as it were, the array. Using
video clips collected during the previous academic year, the editors created
the accompanying “ampersand” video.
