Friday, Feb. 6, the College of William and Mary celebrated its 333rd Charter Day with a ceremony held in Kaplan Arena.
This year’s event featured addresses by Gov. Abigail Spanberger D.P.S. ’26 and award-winning filmmaker Ken Burns Art.D ’26.
The celebration began with a video of the College’s land acknowledgement. A second video featured a voiceover reading of the College’s original charter issued by King William III and Queen Mary II of England in 1693.
President Katherine Rowe spoke first. She highlighted the College’s progress in working toward its goals set out in Vision 2026, the school’s long-term strategic plan.
Rowe mentioned the opening of a new School of Computing, Data Sciences and Physics, the Campus Comprehensive Plan, increased investment in the Batten School of Coastal and Marine Sciences, the Better Arguments Curriculum and the installation of 531 new geothermal wells to power buildings and classrooms as positive accomplishments from the groundwork of Vision 2026.
“We are adapting our classrooms for today’s teachers and learners, stewarding our campus for the next 100 years,” she said.
Rowe officially announced 2026 as the Year of Civic Leadership. This year will emphasize service and community leadership for the common good. “I hope everyone will join us as we honor our community’s foundational role in establishing US democracy,” she said.
The Charter Day ceremony also commemorated Chancellor Robert M. Gates ’65, L.H.D. ’98, who was recently reappointed for a third term.
Gates is now the longest-serving chancellor in the College’s history.
Student Assembly President Zoe Wang ’25, MPP ’26 and Graduate Council President Quinn Girasek ’26 presented Gates with an illuminated manuscript of the Board of Visitors resolution reappointing him as chancellor. College Rector Charles E. Poston J.D. ’74, P ’02, ’06 read aloud from the resolution.
Gates addressed the audience. He emphasized the hope that civic action gives him for democracy.
“As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding, the good news for America is that even though we have a lot of work to do, and serious obstacles ahead of us, we also have the power and means to overcome them,” Gates said.
Following Gates, Poston returned to the podium to present Burns with his honorary degree.
Throughout his career, Burns has won two Grammy Awards and 17 Emmys. Burns’ newest documentary centers on the American Revolutionary War.
Burns addressed the contemporary challenge around accurately representing the American Revolution..
“Today, our founding story, the most important event in world history since the birth of Christ, runs the danger of being smothered in fife and truck treacle, bloodless, sanitized, youthless,” he said.
With his new documentary, Burns hopes to tell a complete story of the American Revolution that stays true to historical events.
“I am interested in the power of an authentic history,” Burns said. “I am interested in its many varied voices, not just the voices of the old top-down version of our past that will try to convince us that American history is only the story of great men.”
Burns emphasized the importance of studying American history.
“Without a knowledge of [our] past, how can we possibly know where we are, and most importantly, where we are going?” Burns said.
Burns cautioned against the notion that history repeats itself.
“No event has ever happened twice, ‘it just rhymes,’ as Mark Twain is supposed to have said,” Burns said. “But maybe, thanks to several Virginians and other patriots, there was something new under the sun on July 4th, 1776.”
Burns concluded with a piece of advice to audience members.
“Do something that will last and be beautiful,” he said.
Gov. Abigail Spanberger addressed the crowd next. This past November, Spanberger was elected the first female governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Before her inauguration, Spanberger served for six years in the U.S. House, representing Virginia’s seventh Congressional District. She also spent eight years as an officer in the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency.
Spanberger expressed hope that the country will overcome its challenges.
“We have always found a way forward,” she said. It isn’t always easy or quick, but we have made our way.”
Spanberger discussed Virginia’s history with gender inequality. She described how progress has not always been easy, but that things have nonetheless improved for women.
“In the face of great opposition, progress was made,” she said.
One of Spanberger’s first legislative priorities as governor is to push for a referendum that repeals an anti-same sex marriage amendment in the state’s constitution.
“When passed, this constitutional amendment will guarantee marriage equality in our Commonwealth,” Spanberger said.“It won’t just enshrine the right of same sex couples to marry, it will remove the ban on same sex marriage that was put on our constitution in 2006.”
Spanberger described civic leadership as important to overcoming challenges facing the country.
“Civic leaders choose to connect across differences, reason with care and act with integrity,” she said. “That’s a road map for how we get through times like these.”
