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W&J Senior Samantha Terrell sits and smiles.

Celebrating Seniors

What or whom was your favorite class or professor? Why?
My favorite professor is Professor Richard Easton because he has helped me more than anyone inside or outside the college. He cares about his students, and everybody, more than he cares about himself sometimes. I would have never made it to my last semester without his help.
What was the best meal you had at The Commons?
The best meal I’ve had at comms would definitely be the Chicken Parmesan during JayTerm 2022. There weren’t a lot of people there and I ate at least five chicken parmesans that day!
What did you plan to study when you came to W&J and what did you end up studying?
I planned on studying Sociology and Pre-Law when I came to W&J, and now I am graduating with a bachelors in psychology with minors in philosophy and conflict & resolution studies.
What advice would you give to incoming or prospective students?
My advice to incoming students would be to believe in yourself. It’s cliche, but if you believe you can do it, then you will. Also, find the balance between school work and mental health - make time for the things you want and love to do!
W&J Senior Lillien Shaer stands and smiles for the camera.

Celebrating Seniors

What or whom was your favorite class or professor? Why?
Dr. Kieran was probably my favorite professor. I learned so much about how to be a student, and how to think critically in his classes. His papers and critiques were always tough, but I came out of them with a better understanding of the subjects and how to express them. You can tell he really cares about his students. It made the world of difference.
If you are a residential student, where have you lived at W&J and with whom?
I loved living on Chestnut Street with my sisters! The Kappa Alpha Theta facility was always full of laughs and good times.
What inspired you to stay at W&J when things got tough?
My friends and sisters were the ones who inspired me to tough it out, ultimately.
What was a favorite class project you completed while at W&J?
HIS 336: Race, Crime, Prisons, and Justice with Dr.Kieran was a wonderful class.
W&J Senior Jeffrey E Seabury Jr. stands and smiles.

Celebrating Seniors

Jeffrey E. Seabury, Jr. '22

What or whom was your favorite class or professor? Why?
One of my favorite classes was Supreme Courts & the Bill of Rights with Dr. Disarro. The class was mostly discussion driven, which made for interesting days—especially when considering the diverse perspectives of other students in the class. Dr. DiSarro was one of my favorite professors and he always led the class in productive and entertaining ways.
What was your favorite on-campus event? Why?
My favorite event on campus was Homecoming my freshman year because when I reflect on it, it reminds me of what the college experience was like before COVID. As a new student, the sense of community on campus was very welcoming. On top of that, tailgating with different people on and off campus, and enjoying the football game, made for a great day.
What are you most proud of doing while at W&J?
I would say that I am most proud of my academic and extracurricular achievements. W&J helped me develop strong time management skills, and I was able to successfully lead three clubs and maintain a high GPA. It is encouraging to look back and see the trail that I am leaving behind me in the clubs I maintained, and the connections made on the way.
What advice would you give to incoming or prospective students?
Take advantage of the opportunities offered to you. After all, you're paying for it! Make sure to buy a good day planner because you're going to need it to be a good student, but make sure you leave time to have fun and make good friends. I love the friends I made here and hope to keep them for life.
W&J Senior Nick Belofsky poses with Kurt Ruehr, the executive director of leadership with Portage County, OH.

Leading the Way

“One thing I’ve come to realize is, it’s totally different having a 20-page research paper due versus having a list of 2,000 lawyers in the district that I have to find contact information for,” Belofsky said. “But I think my time at W&J has prepared me really well because, even though there is a difference in the work, I feel like the ethic that our curriculum creates, transfers really well.”

Alumnus Kenny Clark smiles while junior Kyran Mitchell fends off a basketball opponent.

Leading the Way

Kenny Clark ‘18 & Kyran Mitchell Jr

“Between undergrad and medical, I worked [as the Assistant Director of Admission] at W&J,” said Clark, noting that he oversaw recruiting for the Charles West Scholars Program. “It is crazy to me that some of the students I recruited during my time in admissions are now some of the leaders in the BSU. That is amazing to see.”

Prez Positivity

W&J History

Addition of Centers for Ethical Leadership and Professional Pathways

The Center for Ethical Leadership and the Center for Professional Pathways launched during the fall semester.

Renovations to Clark Family Library

A complete interior renovation and exterior upgrades to the Clark Family Library, formerly U. Grant Miller Library, were completed in May. The project was funded by a leading gift from Richard (Class of ’68) and Angela Clark, with contributions from other generous donors to the College.

James David Ross Family Recreation Center

The James David Ross Family Recreation Center opened in April. The 30,000-square foot facility features a walking/running track, multi-sport athletic courts, a new wrestling room, and a general exercise room, plus new offices and recruiting spaces for the athletics department. It is named for the family of lead donor David A. Ross ’78.

Dr. John C. Knapp Joins W&J

Dr. John C. Knapp became the 13th president of Washington & Jefferson College. Dr. Knapp is an internationally known author and speaker with leadership experience spanning the education, non-profit, and business sectors.

Dr. Tori Haring-Smith Retires

Dr. Tori Haring-Smith retired as president.

Janet Swanson Tennis Center

The Janet Swanson Tennis Center opened in September and serves as the home site for the W&J men’s and women’s tennis teams.

John A. Swanson Science Center

John A. Swanson Science Center was opened and dedicated to the physical sciences, including Physics, Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Bioinformatics.

Uncommon Achievements

Tori Haring-Smith became the first woman to serve as president of Washington & Jefferson College. Under Haring-Smith’s leadership, the College initiated the award-winning Magellan Project, built the state-of-the-art Janet Swanson Tennis Center, surpassed the $100M goal laid out by its Uncommon Bond capital campaign, established the English Language Institute…

The Burnett Center

The Burnett Center houses the Departments of Economics and Business, Modern Languages, and Education. It was named after Howard J. Burnett.

Increased Enrollment

Student enrollment grew from 830 in 1970 to 1,100 in 1998.

Growth and Community Engagement

Under Brian C. Mitchell, who served as president from 1998 to 2004, the college experienced a growth in construction and an effort to improve relations with the neighboring communities.

Retirement of President Howard Burnett

Howard Burnett retired as president.

Program Expansion

Howard J. Burnett took office as president and hired the college’s first female faculty members and the first female dean. The college also adopted a new academic calendar to include intersession and expanded its academic programs to include the Entrepreneurial Studies Program, the Freshman Forum, and several cooperative international education programs.

Women Admitted

The Trustees authorized the admission of women as undergraduate students.

Curriculum Revisions and Construction

Boyd Crumrine Patterson assumed the presidency and oversaw curriculum revisions and the construction of a number of buildings, including the Henry Memorial Center, ten Greek housing units in the center of campus, the U. Grant Miller Library, the Student Center, The Commons, and two new dormitories. His fundraising abilities grew the college’s endowment from…

New Dorms Constructed

James Herbert Case, Jr., who was president from 1946 to 1950, constructed several new dormitories to handle the influx of veterans under the G.I. Bill.

Renovations to McMillan Hall

James D. Moffat personally paid for the renovations of McMillan Hall.

W&J Grows

James D. Moffat led a period of growth when the college constructed The Old Gym, Hays Hall, Thompson Memorial Library, and Thistle Physics Building. Also purchased was the land known as the “old fairground.”

Consolidation Upheld

The United States Supreme Court upheld the consolidation, allowing the newly configured college to proceed.

Effort to Overturn Consolidation

Before the merger could be completed, Canonsburg residents and Jefferson College partisans filed a lawsuit known as the Pennsylvania College Cases, which sought to overturn the consolidation plan.

Jonathan Edwards

On April 4th, Jonathan Edwards, a pastor from Baltimore who had been president of Hanover College, was elected the first president of the unified Washington & Jefferson College.

Washington & Jefferson College

Following the Civil War, both colleges were short on students and on funds, causing them to join together as Washington & Jefferson College.

Washington College

Matthew Brown petitioned the Pennsylvania General Assembly to grant Washington Academy a charter, allowing it to be re-christened as Washington College.

Canonsburg Academy

Canonsburg Academy was reconstituted as Jefferson College, with John McMillan serving as the first President of the Board of Trustees.

Whiskey Rebellion

During the Whiskey Rebellion, portions of David Bradford’s militia camped on the hillside that would later become home to the unified Washington & Jefferson College.

Founding of College

The Beginning: Three Log Cabins

Washington & Jefferson College traces its origins to three log cabin colleges established by frontier clergymen John McMillian, Thaddeus Dod, and Joseph Smith.

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