Alumni Focus

William & Mary’s significance on the national stage as the Alma Mater of the Nation is fueled by our amazing alumni. It acknowledges our excellence and our 333 years of ardently pursuing intellectual achievements. This ambition has fueled innovation in other areas — athletics, governance, leadership and more. This issue of the W&M Alumni Magazine provides exciting and inspiring articles and updates celebrating ways our alumni, faculty, students and staff are part of that history and future of preeminence.

Doug Schmidt ’84, M.A. ’86, dean of the new School of Computing, Data Sciences & Physics, along with students, faculty and alumni, talk about their work in artificial intelligence. Scientists from the Center for Conservation Biology show how they are restoring a population of endangered woodpeckers. International students share what they gained and gave at William & Mary. That is just a preview of a few of the articles you will find inside.

One of the most entertaining — no pun intended — articles takes a look at the world-class music scene that is William & Mary. From Jimmy Buffett performing on Cary Field — I worked on the stage-building crew that summer — to The Roots, our campus has hosted some of the best popular musical groups to ever perform. Many of the stories told there were shared by you on our social media channels.

You, too, are part of the rich tapestry that is our tremendous history and future. William & Mary is a community made stronger by the contributions of all its members.

The magazine sheds light on some great things happening at W&M, and you are also part of our story. I invite you to become fully engaged in creating the future of William & Mary. Your opportunities to support alumni engagement, student success, career development and university priorities abound, and are appreciated. If you would like to learn more about deepening your engagement with William & Mary, please start by connecting with us at wmalumni.com.