Rowe, a nationally recognized leader in digital innovation for the liberal arts and sciences, became the 28th president of William & Mary on July 1, 2018. A noted teacher, scholar and entrepreneur, Rowe is a passionate advocate for the relevance of the liberal arts and sciences in a rapidly changing world. Under her leadership, William & Mary has launched a number of initiatives to reinforce a “whole institution” approach to its educational experience. These include a central “Entrepreneurship Hub”, a studio for teaching innovation, W&M’s first long-range sustainability plan and a university-wide approach to diversity and inclusion. During her first year, Rowe convened a series of campus-wide conversations, Thinking Forward, discussing the 20‐year future of knowledge, work and service. These discussions shaped the university’s strategic planning effort, currently underway. Before coming to W&M, Rowe served as provost and dean of faculty at Smith College in Massachusetts. Having grown up in a family of entrepreneurs, Rowe co-founded and served as CEO of Luminary Digital Media, which developed a series of educational apps enhancing student engagement and learning of classic Shakespearean texts. Rowe earned a bachelor's degree in English and American literature from Carleton College and a master's and Ph.D. in English and American literature from Harvard University. She has published three books, most recently New Wave Shakespeare on Screen with Thomas Cartelli.
