If one only reads the headlines about higher education, one might believe the only story is one of decline. Yet at Wilson, I am a daily witness to a different story unfolding: one of renewal, resolve, and rising together.

The challenges we face are real. Across our sector, institutions are wrestling with demographic shifts, questions of affordability, tight fiscal margins, political turmoil, and the urgent need to reinvent in a fast-changing world.  But enduring challenges are also invitations: invitations to be bold, to reimagine, and to recommit to mission.

Here at Wilson, we have accepted that invitation through Future Wilson: The Phoenix Rises strategic plan, which will conclude in December after five years. Over the last few years, this plan has become not just a roadmap but a rallying cry. I am deeply gratified to report that we are seeing measurable momentum:

• Enrollment is growing rapidly. We achieved our highest enrollment for the start of a fall term in the history of the College, with 1877 students, a 10% increase over last year. Our entering traditional aged class studying at our campus in Chambersburg is the 2nd largest class since 1967, nearly exceeding our residential capacity.
• Retention is improving. Through innovations in our advising model, strengthened student supports, and more intentional community building, we have seen significant improvement in retention. Students who begin here are more likely to stay, succeed, and graduate.
• We have launched new academic and co-curricular initiatives that match the needs of a 21st-century workforce and the aspirations of our students. Whether it’s introducing hybrid or accelerated pathways or expanding online offerings, we are making Wilson more nimble, accessible, and forward looking.
• A Wilson education is affordable. The U.S. Department of Education reports that after all financial aid, students at Wilson, on average, pay approximately $2,300 less per year than students attending a nearby public institution, despite that institution receiving tens of millions of dollars in public funding.

All of this is made possible by the investment of our community. It is therefore with both joy and gratitude that I share this milestone: the We Rise: United for Wilson’s Future campaign has closed at more than $21.7 million in gifts and pledges, over 98% of which have already been received. This far exceeds even the ambitious stretch goals we adopted during the campaign’s final phase. These funds will power scholarships, program growth, and support for the women and men who teach and serve our students.

This achievement is not about numbers on a balance sheet. It is about people—students whose dreams are made possible, faculty and staff whose excellence is uplifted, and alumnae, alumni, and friends whose commitment assures Wilson’s trajectory. It is about trust in our shared vision and determination to ensure Wilson does not just endure, but thrives.

I will not pretend that this journey is without risk or strain. The higher education landscape remains volatile, and the margin for error is small. We must steward carefully, innovate thoughtfully, and lean into what sets Wilson apart: individualized education driven through strong relationships, academic rigor rooted in the liberal arts and sciences, affordability and access, and a relentless focus on our values.

But I have never been more confident in Wilson’s capacity to rise. The conditions are difficult—but our community is courageous. Our mission is needed. And the momentum is real.

To every member of the Wilson family—students, faculty, staff, alumnae, alumni, parents, trustees, and friends—I extend my heartfelt thanks. You have shown up. You have believed. And together, we are writing the next chapter of Wilson’s story.

May this edition of Wilson Magazine inspire pride in how far we have come and excitement for what lies ahead. Let us continue to rise—undaunted, united, and unwavering.

Wesley R. Fugate, Ph.D.
President, Wilson College