Event season at the Wilson Center is in full swing! Academic and co-curricular life at the Wilson Center is enhanced by speakers and programs offered throughout the year. Here are some highlights of this fall’s events. As a reminder, you are always welcome to attend these public events!
- Brigadier General Mark O’Neill (USA, ret) (parent of Colin ’11 and member of the Wilson Center Board of Advisors) gave a fascinating presentation about the way the tragic events of September 11, 2001, changed our national security infrastructure and the responsibilities of future leaders.
- On September 16, we celebrated Constitution Day. Henrik Rasmussen ’03 (member of the Wilson Center Board of Advisors) wove together thoughts from Madison, Lincoln, and General Sam to give us a better sense of the rights and responsibilities of American citizenship.
- Later in September, we hosted a workshop with the American Shakespeare Center, followed up by a wonderful performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Workshop participants learned about stage presence and situational leadership.
- As part of Homecoming festivities, we had the privilege of hosting the U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein, Ed McMullen ’86, who gave a fantastic talk about his current role and the way his Hampden-Sydney education prepared him for the position. The Ambassador also attended four classes and engaged with a small group of Wilson Fellows over a two-hour lunch. This type of deep personal engagement with leaders is a hallmark of the Hampden-Sydney student experience.
- In October we welcomed back Michael Via ’07 (administrator, teacher, and head lacrosse coach at the Potomac School) and Morgan Scoville (head of school at the Fay School in Houston), who spoke to students about changes in educational delivery systems.
- On October 16, Tim Tyler ’88 looked back on the Iranian Hostage Crisis after 40 years.
- The Wilson Center joined the Flemming Center for Entrepreneurship in welcoming noted entrepreneur Warren Thompson ’81 back to campus. The business leader provided deep and meaningful insight into his experience building Thompson Hospitality, one of the nation’s largest retail food and management companies.
- In conjunction with the Ferguson Career Center, we hosted informational sessions with representatives from graduate programs at Cornell University and the University of Virginia. We are excited about the partnerships we have developed with both graduate programs!
- As part of our outreach to Farmville and the larger Southside community, we hosted the Southside Virginia Model United Nations and the High School Leadership Summit in conjunction with the Farmville Chamber of Commerce.
- We will end the busy semester with a visit from noted historian Jay Winter (professor of history at Yale University) on Monday, November 25. Winter will attend classes and provide a public talk about World War I and its impact on Europe.