Volume 2 Issue 3, Spring 2020

Director’s Note

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented Hampden-Sydney College, the Wilson Center for Leadership in the Public Interest, and nearly every other American business and institution, with unprecedented challenges.  This difficult time makes me more confident that our work at the Wilson Center is more important than it has ever been.  I am confident the world needs more leaders who display the traits and bedrock values evidenced in the life of Lt. General Samuel Wilson and embedded in the ethos of the College and Wilson Center.

We need leaders who:

  • Have the moral judgement to inspire followers toward ethical goals
  • Selflessly take the long-term view because it is right over an easy short-term victory
  • Display the courage and integrity to speak truth to power
  • Understand the rights and responsibilities of leadership in our constitutional republic
  • Uplift followers with displays of empathy, compassion, kindness, positivity, and good humor
  • Believe that service to others is the highest possible human calling

Working at Hampden-Sydney College and the Wilson Center is a calling more than a job because we attempt to provide our students with these traits, values, and ideals.  This worthy endeavor is a calling because we are confident that when we pour into our young men, we can help them become the very best versions of themselves.  They will then, in turn, leave campus and become the doctors, educators, civil servants, businessmen, scientists, and policy makers who will lead us through this challenging time and others.

When you engage with the Wilson Center, you engage with the young men who will strengthen our civil society.

The world needs “men of character who will lead lives of consequence.”  The world needs “good men and good citizens.”  The world needs Hampden-Sydney College.

We long for the days we can work with our students and engage with you, our alumni and friends, in person.  Be confident that we are planning for a robust fall, full of events on and off campus.  Please note two important dates:

  • The Wheat Professor Celebration scheduled for May 14 in Washington, D.C. has been postponed. The new date will now be Friday, October 9.
  • The College will be hosting commencement for the Class of 2020 during Homecoming on Saturday, October 24. This will be a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the members of the Class of 2020 and show them that this community will support them for the entirety of their lives and careers.

We look forward to seeing you then.  In the meantime, please take a look at some great stories in our newsletter.  Reach out at (434) 223-6212 with any questions.  Take care, stay safe, and be well.

Many thanks,

director's signature

Dr. Ryan Pemberton ‘00
Director of the Wilson Center for Leadership in the Public Interest

Please follow us on twitter  and facebook !

Student Profiles
Students are the sole focus of the Hampden-Sydney experience.  General Wilson said the following when selected as president in the summer of 1992:

“The single most important person walking this campus is the student, followed closely thereafter by the faculty and staff who serve as his mentor.  The single most important thing that happens on this campus is that colloquy between the student and his mentor.  All else is secondary and supporting.”

Faculty and staff are called to help these outstanding young men become the very best versions of themselves.  In each subsequent newsletter we will highlight two wonderful students from our Wilson Leadership Fellows Program.  These “men of character who will lead lives of consequence” are worthy of our support and guidance.
Please enjoy some additional information about sophomores Ian Fitzgerald ‘22 and Ian Lichacz ‘22.

Hampden-Sydney Week in D.C. Trip
Dr. David Marion and Dr. Ryan Pemberton took students in their INDS 385: Leadership and Public Policy at the National Level class to Washington for spring break. Students networked with alumni and friends and enjoyed the unique culture of Washington during a whirlwind excursion to our nation’s capital.
Read more…

Wilson Center Award Banquet
Each year those associated with the Wilson Center gather to celebrate our graduates and to honor the recipients of the James Madison and Patrick Henry awards.  These banquets are always meaningful events as our students hear from role models who have lived lives of exemplary service.
Read more…

Support the Wilson Center
We are aware that times are difficult and uncertain but hope that all those close to the Center and the College pull together to support our young men who will go on to serve others for a lifetime.  Now more than ever, the world needs Hampden-Sydney men.  We need “men of character who will lead lives of consequence.”  We need honest, ethical, earnest, thoughtful leaders to lead and strengthen our civil society.
Please consider supporting the Wilson Center and our outstanding young men today.