January 20, 2026 — Welcome to Spring 2026 at Davidson College

Dear Members of the Davidson College Community,

Happy New Year. On this first day of the spring semester, we welcome everyone back to campus—especially the 200-plus students who participated in study away programs last fall. I joined VP and Dean of Students MarQuita Barker to host this morning’s Common Hour with donuts, hot chocolate, and coffee in the Brown Atrium of the Alvarez College Union. The collective energy of our students, faculty, and staff propels me into our spring courses and activities.

At the beginning of this academic year, I wrote to the Davidson community about our theme for the year – Building on Strength. Even in this moment of national and global turbulence, we continue, with palpable momentum, to achieve our strategic plan priorities.

In August, I announced the creation of the Institute for Public Good at Davidson College. The Institute for Public Good (IPG) will foster academic and intellectual collaboration in order to cultivate students’ capacity to devise public solutions and develop ethical public leaders for the well-being of society. Program areas include civic engagement, deliberation and free expression, public policy and research, arts in public life, and ethics, honor, and leadership.

I am delighted to share that the Institute for Public Good received a $4 million grant from The Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education within the US Department of Education. The funds are to be used to expand our Deliberative Citizenship Initiative into a national network of colleges and universities anchored in the IPG at Davidson. This historic grant affirms Davidson’s leadership in this effort and our commitment to understand and advance the public good.

Please mark your calendars for an upcoming special event. On February 26, the IPG will host a conversation in the Duke Family Performance Hall with the five living presidents of Davidson College – John Kuykendall, Bobby Vagt, Tom Ross, Carol Quillen, and me. We’ll be discussing Davidson’s enduring values over decades of societal change.

I hope you will consider joining us for this special evening to hear from leaders of Davidson College. More information on the event will be forthcoming.

Meanwhile, students have begun jumping into their classes; winter sports teams are representing Davidson across the country and across media networks; inspiring arts performances will happen throughout the semester; and student clubs and organizations, the Hurt Hub, and the Matthews Center for Career Development will prepare students for lives of leadership and service.

Students, faculty, and staff: Welcome back to campus.  Alumni, parents, friends, and neighbors: I look forward to greeting you on campus soon.  Go ‘Cats!

Best,

Doug Hicks '90
President