Graduates and members of the William & Mary community were recognized at the 2026 commencement with awards for their dedication to the university and its values.
Excellence
Research & Scholarship
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.
W&M Life
William & Mary celebrates Class of 2026 on the national stage
Francis Fukuyama encourages Class of 2026 to embrace their roles as civic leaders.
W&M Life
William & Mary Libraries announces Sadeqa Johnson as writer-in-residence
William & Mary Libraries has selected Virginia author Sadeqa Johnson as its 2026-2027 writer-in-residence.
Excellence
Caligiuri and Cascone win spring 2026 Values in Action awards
The Values in Action awards recognize staff and faculty at William & Mary who exemplify the qualities the university holds in highest regard: belonging, curiosity, excellence, flourishing, integrity, respect and service.
University News
Robert M. Gates Initiative in American Statecraft launches at William & Mary
Inspired by the legacy of Chancellor Robert M. Gates ’65, L.H.D. ’98, the Robert M. Gates Global Policy Center and William & Mary are launching a signature center for foreign policy teaching and research.
Excellence
In W&M’s Year of Civic Leadership, Saylor Barnes ’26 shows how it’s done
Saylor Barnes '26 made herself invaluable to William & Mary’s Civic and Community Engagement office, leading voter engagement efforts during her undergraduate years.
Excellence
The combined power of cutting-edge research and authentic connection
2026 Plumeri Awards celebrate the achievements of W&M faculty and staff.
Service & Community
A passionate arts proponent
Judith ‘Judi’ Starkey to be named an honorary W&M alumna.
University News
Chelsea Smith honored with Shirley Aceto Award
The award recognizes her exceptional commitment to the university’s core values, outstanding individual service, and leadership working with students, faculty and staff.
University News
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.
Excellence
W&M Athletics shines in NCAA Academic Progress Rate
William & Mary Athletics registered strong numbers in the latest Academic Progress Rate released by the NCAA.
Excellence
W&M students, alumnus earn prestigious national, international scholarships
The awardees will soon be traveling to places like New York City, China and South Korea either to continue their education, immerse themselves in a new culture or broaden their understanding of their discipline.
Research & Scholarship
W&M Racing Team, ‘Flying Fish’ win autonomous boat competition
William & Mary Racing won the 2026 Promoting Electric Propulsion (PEP) autonomous division.
Excellence
The maestro comes to class
As part of a capstone class in theatre, the cast and crew of "Godspell" were treated to a master class led by Broadway legend Stephen Schwartz.
Excellence
Professor Allison Orr Larsen named 2026 Andrew Carnegie Fellow
The fellowship supports bold scholarship on pressing issues facing American democracy.
University News
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 the university’s…
Excellence
Burritos in Bengaluru
How one student’s study-abroad experience inspired a multimillion-dollar business.
Research & Scholarship
University-hosted symposium demonstrates cyber leadership
The event emphasized empowering cyber-spectrum leaders by aligning critical technologies, education and operational readiness across sectors critical to U.S. national security.
University News
W&M Board of Visitors elects rector, vice rector and secretary
Ardine Williams will serve as rector, Kendrick F. Ashton ’98 as vice rector and John Brownlee J.D. ’94, P ’22 as secretary, effective July 1, 2026.
University News
With a focus on affordability, careers and value, W&M board approves budget
University’s net price remains one of the lowest in Virginia; undergraduate tuition set through the 2027-2028 academic year to give families more predictability.
W&M Life
Stitching together creativity and community at W&M’s costume shop
The theatre & performance costume shop builds students’ costume-making skills while cultivating a community of theatre professionals.
Research & Scholarship
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.”
University News
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.
Service & Community
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.
Excellence
W&M faculty join innovative artificial intelligence network
Two W&M faculty members have been selected for the first-of-its-kind cohort that will use expertise from across the country to drive and disseminate institutional transformation with artificial intelligence.
Research & Scholarship
W&M election law directors receive MIT grant to improve voter registration systems
James Alcorn and Rebecca Green have been awarded a national research grant from the MIT Election Data + Science Lab to study voter registration and list maintenance systems across the United States.
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W&M Life
Video content: 2026 Day for Admitted Students
More than 1,300 admitted students plus their families participated in the annual Day for Admitted Students on April 11.
Research & Scholarship
W&M faculty research leads to landmark Indigenous Language Symposium
Tribal members from across Virginia and the Eastern Seaboard gathered at the Muscarelle Museum of Art for William & Mary's first Indigenous Language Symposium.
W&M Life
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.