What does it mean to lead boldly at a place where the walls are older than the country itself?
At William & Mary, one of the most storied academic institutions in the United States, *going big* isn’t about abandoning tradition—it’s about building on it with clarity, courage, and vision. And under the leadership of President Katherine Rowe, that’s exactly what’s happening.
As the 28th president—and the first woman to hold the role in the university’s 330-year history—Katherine Rowe has taken on the challenge of guiding a centuries-old institution into a new era. But instead of clinging to the past or resisting change, she’s demonstrated that the most meaningful progress often comes when we pair deep roots with bold ambition.
Rowe’s leadership is grounded in a belief that tradition is not stasis—it’s movement. It’s evolution. It’s the ability to understand the core values that define a community, and then adapt how those values are lived out in a rapidly changing world. From launching cutting-edge programs in computing and data science to reorganizing student career services in the midst of economic uncertainty, her presidency has been defined by an ability to spot emerging needs and move decisively to meet them.
Perhaps most striking was her decision to reopen campus during the height of the pandemic in the fall of 2020—a move that went against the grain of most universities at the time. That bold call wasn’t driven by politics or pressure—it was driven by listening. Listening to students. Listening to staff. Listening to what the moment required. Because at its core, bold leadership doesn’t begin with shouting. It begins with understanding who you serve and why it matters.
Under Rowe’s leadership, William & Mary didn’t just weather change—it embraced it. She helped transform the Virginia Institute for Marine Science from a “hidden gem” into the crown jewel of the university’s real-world problem-solving mission. With the launch of a new undergraduate program in coastal and marine sciences, backed by a \$100 million gift, William & Mary is now preparing students to confront challenges like sea level rise, climate resilience, and water management—issues that affect more than three billion people worldwide.
That’s what it looks like to *go big* in higher education.
It means training students not just for jobs, but for leadership in a world that’s uncertain, fast-moving, and technologically complex. It means treating artificial intelligence not as a threat to liberal arts, but as a tool that liberal arts students must learn to master—so they can think critically, communicate clearly, and solve problems across disciplines.
And perhaps most importantly, it means cultivating a community where disagreement isn’t feared but welcomed. Under Rowe’s guidance, William & Mary has implemented a campus-wide “Better Arguments” initiative, teaching students and faculty alike how to engage deeply—even when they disagree passionately. Because in a divided world, the ability to listen well, argue with empathy, and build consensus may be one of the boldest forms of leadership there is.
The lesson in all of this? You don’t need to choose between legacy and innovation. You can be both rooted and forward-looking. You can be the oldest public university in the country *and* a place that leads in preparing students for a future shaped by AI, global challenges, and constant reinvention.
Katherine Rowe is showing us what that looks like in real time. Her leadership isn’t flashy. It’s thoughtful. It’s precise. It’s bold in the ways that matter most.
*Going big* doesn’t always mean doing more. Sometimes it means doing the right things with urgency, with integrity, and with a deep belief in the people you lead.
That’s what transformation looks like at scale. And that’s how you lead a legacy into the future.
