President Katherine A. Rowe
"As William & Mary’s Vision statement reads, people come here 'wanting to understand and change the world – and together we do.' At a learning institution, we do this by holding open spaces for respectful disagreement: recognizing that while we may not share the same experiences and perceptions, we are all part of this community, we all belong, and we are united by our shared mission of teaching, learning and research.
In order to grow in understanding, we make these commitments to each other: to engage civilly at times of heightened or difficult feelings, to acknowledge the humanity of those we are in conflict with, and to not demonize each other. We commit to safeguard together an environment where all can teach, learn, and make new knowledge without fear of bias, disruption, or barriers."
Related Series & Events
Following the success of the Spring 2024 Scholarly Perspectives series on the Middle East, a coordinating committee has developed a Spring 2025 series on Arts & Democracy and will host four visitors whose artistic practice aims to impact democratic processes. The series is co-sponsored by Arts & Sciences and the Reves Center for International Studies.
"There is something I deeply appreciate about William & Mary. It is the way we value the connections between research, teaching, learning and living as a way of understanding the world. This series is an example of those kinds of connections.” - Teresa Longo, executive director of the Reves Center and professor of Hispanic Studies.
Additional Events
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The Global Middle East: Tyler Lecture Series
April 3 - 4, 2025: The Harrison Ruffin Tyler Department of History presents the 2023 Tyler Lecture Series Symposium.
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Iman Zaki: Theater as Resistance
March 31, 2025: Iman Zaki, cultural manager, researcher, consultant, and theater maker, is the third artist of the Spring 2025 Scholarly Perspectives Series on Arts & Democracy.
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Sectarian Power-Sharing in Lebanon: Perils and Appeals, Professor Aytuğ Şaşmaz, Bryn Mawr College
April 3, 2025: Aytuğ Şaşmaz is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Bryn Mawr College specializing in the comparative politics of the Middle East and North Africa. His research focuses on secular-religious electoral competition, political parties and organizations, youth political and civic engagement, and democratic decline.
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Daniel Hernández Salazar
April 10, 2025: Guatemalan photographer Daniel Hernández Salazar will be the keynote and final speaker of the Spring 2025 Scholarly Perspectives Series on Arts & Democracy.
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Being a Jew in the Islamic Republic of Iran
April 16, 2025: In this talk, Professor Lior Sternfeld analyzes the place Iranian Jews claim in the Islamic Republic of Iran, especially against the backdrop of the revolution, the Iran-Iraq War, the conflict with Israel, and the Middle East more broadly.
Expression on Campus
Expression on Campus
William & Mary supports free speech, both as a founding principle of our country and as an inherent part of our University mission. We encourage civil discourse around challenging subjects and strive to ensure a campus environment where every community member can participate openly, and we reject hatred and discrimination as contrary to our values of belonging and respect.
Learning how to engage in productive and respectful discussions about sensitive and complex issues is a hallmark of the educational experience. To that end, there are offices across campus that can help you hone your speech skills and offer you opportunities to become more effectively engaged:
- Civic & Community Engagement
- Student Unions & Engagement
- Student Leadership Development
- Self-Governance in Residence Halls
The university has also established content-neutral restrictions on the time, place and manner where speech can occur. Details on applicable restrictions can be found in the following policies:
Campus Resources
Resources are available to members of our campus community who may be experiencing difficulties in light of global events.
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Health & Wellness
Browse and select resources available to students.
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University Human Resources
Learn about the Employee Assistance Program for staff.
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Campus Recreation
Take out a canoe, do a fitness class, move your body.
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Campus Ministries United
A multifaith coalition of spiritual leaders enabling shared experiences.
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Counseling Center
When one-to-one or group therapy is needed.
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Timely Care
Online 24/7 counseling support.
Vision 2026: Democracy Initiative
At a time when communities around the world are deeply divided, we have the opportunity to rediscover the ideals that make pluralistic democracies strong. W&M has played a pivotal role in shaping democracy since the founding of the United States. As we prepare for our country’s 250th anniversary, W&M will ensure that our nation’s origin stories are expansive, honest and that they unite us in a commitment to knowledge as a public good. By studying, teaching and illuminating the rights and obligations of 21st-century citizenship, the Alma Mater of the Nation is uniquely positioned to ensure that democratic ideals thrive for generations to come.
W&M Global News Coverage
See all coverage in the W&M News
Media Links
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