May 17, 2026 — Excerpt of 2026 Commencement Remarks by President Doug Hicks ’90
In his 2026 commencement address, President Doug Hicks challenges the notion that college life is a separate “cocoon,” asserting instead that the campus experience—built on authentic relationships, shared struggles, and a quest for truth—is where the “real world” truly begins.
Confronting a technological landscape defined by an artificial intelligence tidal wave, President Hicks emphasizes that while AI is a powerful tool to be harnessed, it carries the risk of dehumanizing society.
Ultimately, the Class of 2026 is charged to use Davidson's foundational commitment to human dignity and moral imagination to navigate this digital era, urging them to anchor themselves in what makes us genuinely, authentically human so they can actively shape a better world and contribute to the greater public good.