William & Mary
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W&M is a top public research university, home to a vibrant and inclusive community of creative thinkers, bold leaders & compassionate global citizens.
Jenny Hagel ’98 turned improv, persistence, and a lot of “small steps forward” into a career in comedy writing. Now an Emmy-nominated writer for Late Night With Seth Meyers, she reflects on her path from William & Mary improv to late-night TV and what it really takes to build a creative career.
The Work of Being Funny
Emmy-nominated comedy writer Jenny Hagel ’98 has some advice
magazine.wm.edu
The Appalachian mountains tell a story 25,000 years in the making. 🏔️ William & Mary research shows how Ice Age climates sculpted today’s Appalachian peaks and valleys.
Appalachians shaped by the Ice Age
A William & Mary geologist is unscrambling the code of climate and erosion.
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William & Mary’s Civic Action Scorecard is helping students turn civic engagement into action. With 80+ opportunities across service, democracy and community well-being, W&M students are logging real impact and reflecting on how they engage with the world.
Civic Action Scorecard empowers students to engage in civic leadership at William & Mary
The toolkit provides more than 80 opportunities for students to participate in democracy and civic leadership, record and reflect on participation and be recognized for their efforts.
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Bob Wise ’86 went from William & Mary’s computer labs to Nvidia. His journey highlights how a strong foundation in computer science—and the liberal arts—can prepare students for the next generation of technology.
Wise Words
Bob Wise ’86 forged his path from W&M’s computer lab to Nvidia, the world’s leading AI computing company
magazine.wm.edu
What did Jefferson mean by the “pursuit of happiness”? A new W&M feature explains it as eudaimonia — a life of virtue, wisdom, and service to others. In other words, happiness as flourishing, not just pleasure. A reminder that the “good life” is built, not found.
What Jefferson really meant by the ‘Pursuit of Happiness’
Few phrases are more closely associated with the Declaration of Independence than Thomas Jefferson’s assertion that all people possess an unalienable right to “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happine...
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The American Revolution, told stitch by stitch. “America’s Tapestry” features 13 hand-embroidered panels created by volunteers across the original colonies, highlighting lesser-known stories of the nation’s founding. On view through Sept. 6 at the Muscarelle Museum of Art at William & Mary.
The fabric of a new nation, told stitch by stitch
Just in time for America’s 250th birthday, the nation’s founding story comes together in “America’s Tapestry,” on view June 19-Sept. 6 at the Muscarelle Museum of Art at William & Mary
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Sea level rise is quietly reshaping farmland along the Mid-Atlantic coast. A new study from William & Mary’s Batten School & VIMS found that about 25,000 acres of farmland turned into marsh between 1984 and 2022.
Sea level rise is swallowing Mid-Atlantic farmland faster than expected, study finds
Ghost forests have become haunting symbols of sea level rise overtaking land along the Mid-Atlantic coast. But a new study points to even more dramatic land losses in the region’s coastal farmlands.
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Yesterday, the W&M community gathered to commemorate Juneteenth and reflect on its enduring themes of freedom, resilience, and hope. Thank you to all who joined us in honoring this important day and celebrating the strength of our community.
Student innovation is making waves at William & Mary 🌊 W&M Racing, a team of student engineers, sailed away with first place in the 2026 Promoting Electric Propulsion competition's autonomous division with a custom-built boat featuring advanced autonomous systems and active aerodynamics.
W&M Racing Team, ‘Flying Fish’ win autonomous boat competition
William & Mary Racing won the 2026 Promoting Electric Propulsion (PEP) autonomous division.
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It's an exciting day TODAY at W&M! The third hour of the NBC program featured guest co-host Patton Oswalt ’91, D.A. ’23, President Katherine A. Rowe and several members of the Class of 2026.
A few reminders before you head to Commencement 🎓 📅 Friday at 6 p.m. in Zable Stadium ⏰ Gates open at 4 p.m. 🎟️ Mobile tickets required (download before arriving) 👜 Clear bag policy in place for all attendees Plan ahead, give yourself extra time, and get ready to celebrate the Class of 2026!
14,221 donors. $5.6 million raised. One historic #OneTribeOneDay 💚💛 Thank you for making this the biggest giving day in William & Mary history & one of the most successful in higher education nationwide.
William & Mary marks historic One Tribe One Day with 14,221 donors
Record-breaking $5.6 million raised for 1,010 funds in one of the nation’s most successful university giving days.
go.wm.edu
When challenges arise, colleagues say Debi Jarvis is the person they turn to. This year’s Charles and Virginia Duke Award recipient has spent years strengthening the William & Mary community through thoughtful leadership, collaboration and care for others.
The consummate team player
For her stewardship of W&M's transition to the Workday and a litany of other meaningful contributions, Jarvis is being recognized as the 2026 recipient of the Charles and Virginia Duke Award, one of t...
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Can plants count? 🌱 W&M research suggests Mimosa pudica can track events in its environment — learning without a brain. This discovery hints at a new type of intelligence and challenges what we think we know about memory.
Can plants count?
New research suggests they may be able to track the number of events they experience.
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A timeless tradition rings out today. Happy Last Day of Classes to the Class of 2026! Congratulations to the seniors celebrating the completion of their degrees with the ringing of the Wren Bell.
Mark your calendars and RSVP for the next Tack Faculty Lecture on May 7: “Wisdom & Machines: How Liberal Arts & AI Learn from Each Other."
A first for the Tack Lecture: Business, AI and the liberal arts
Rachel Chung will present a lecture on “Wisdom & Machines: How Liberal Arts & AI Learn from Each Other.”
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Your time at William & Mary goes pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. #OneTribeOneDay is officially here & the vibe is a total throwback. Don't let the moment pass you by—make a gift or see how to get involved: go.wm.edu/tWH7wr
The countdown is almost over! Join fellow alumni, families, and friends as we come together once again for One Tribe One Day this Wednesday, April 29.
Power in unity: One Tribe One Day returns April 29
On April 29, thousands of William & Mary alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends from around the world will come together for One Tribe One Day.
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A transformative $1.2M gift is expanding the Institute for Integrative Conservation’s global impact 🌍 This new gift will help launch W&M’s Conservationist in Residence Program, develop a specialized undergraduate leadership course and strengthen the Conservation Catalyst program.
A visionary investment in the future of conservation leadership
$1.2 million gift to William & Mary’s Institute for Integrative Conservation will expand opportunities for students and bring conservation leaders together.
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Leadership. Mentorship. Service. The 2026 International Student Achievement Awards honor six students whose contributions extend beyond the classroom to foster meaningful connections across the W&M community.
Reves Center announces 2026 International Student Achievement Awards
The Reves Center for International Studies at William & Mary has announced the 2026 International Student Achievement Award recipients.
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What does a liberal arts education look like in the age of AI? Bob Wise ’86 of NVIDIA will explore that question and more during his return to William & Mary on April 23, reflecting on how communication & critical thinking shaped his career journey.
Bob Wise ’86 of Nvidia to speak at W&M April 23
Wise is the inaugural speaker in the School of Computing, Data Sciences & Physics Class of 1975 Speaker Series.
news.wm.edu
W&M is now a Gold-Level Military Friendly School, and the Mason School of Business ranks #1 for military grad students! 🏅 Serving those who serve has been part of our mission since 1693 and continues to guide our support for military students and families.
William & Mary earns highest honor as a ‘Military Friendly’ institution
The university has been reaffirmed as a Gold-Level Military Friendly School by MilitaryFriendly.com, the highest honor a university can receive.
news.wm.edu
Developed as part of an undergraduate project led by Ellen Rowe ’25, a new tool unveiled by William & Mary’s Batten School & VIMS brings to life almost 30 years of oyster survey data.
New interactive tool visualizes Virginia’s oyster populations
Developed as part of an undergraduate project, the tool unveiled by William & Mary’s Batten School & VIMS brings to life almost 30 years of oyster survey data.
news.wm.edu
Blast off for something bigger 🚀 One Tribe One Day returns April 29, and this year, we’re throwing it back. Stay tuned for more info as we celebrate the power of the William & Mary community to lift each other higher: otod.wm.edu
The countdown to William & Mary Weekend in D.C. begins! 🕒 Join the W&M community May 28–31 for a unique weekend of connection & exploration in the capital. Registration is now open.
William & Mary Weekend
weekend.wm.edu
Two weeks in Kruger National Park gave William & Mary pre-vet students an unforgettable lesson in wildlife health 🦁 Mentored by Heather Broughton, they applied research skills in the field, preparing for careers in veterinary science and conservation.
William & Mary students study feline feces in South Africa
Lion poop may work as a non-invasive measure of inflammation and stress.
news.wm.edu
With contributions from more than 100 students, AidData has mapped China’s overseas port financing like never before. The new report and open dataset reveal a global network of ports, equipment, and nearby resources—shedding light on Beijing’s long-term strategy for supply chain security.
China’s $24B in port financing encircles the globe, reaching 90 countries
New AidData report and dataset provide the clearest picture yet of Beijing’s race for maritime dominance.
news.wm.edu
William & Mary Ethics Club captured its first-ever national title at the 2026 APPE Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl, outlasting 36 other university teams from across the country.
W&M Ethics Club wins national championship, a first for the university
The William & Mary Ethics Club beat 36 undergraduate teams from across the country to take first in a competition of dimensional analysis and nuance.
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Proud moment for W&M! Associate professor Cristiano Fanelli received an NSF CAREER Award for groundbreaking work mapping the structure of protons and neutrons through deep learning.
Fanelli earns NSF CAREER Award for AI-driven nuclear physics research
The National Science Foundation has recognized Cristiano with a Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award.
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