Dear fellow alumnae and friends of Wells College,
Like many of you, I have spent the past year grieving the closure of our beloved college and feeling deep frustration over the decisions made about its future. The loss of our campus in Aurora is more than symbolic — it is personal. Every brick, bell and lakeside step holds meaning.
That said, I am pleased with the legacy agreement reached with Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Though it cannot replace what we've lost, I believe this partnership offers a meaningful and realistic path forward — one that honors our past and helps preserve our values for future generations.
When the agreement was announced on June 11, I cried tears of joy. Though 30 miles apart, Wells and HWS have long shared a quiet, enduring connection as liberal arts institutions rooted in the Finger Lakes, shaped by mutual respect and commitment to education.
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While many alums share a sense of relief, others are grieving all over again — some even suggesting this marks the end of the Wells legacy. These emotions are valid. But legacy is not limited to buildings or zip codes.
The heart of Wells has always lived in us — in our intellect, creativity, values and community. To say the legacy has an "extinction date" because it shifts to Geneva misses a more profound truth: A Wells education transcends geography. We are the legacy — evens and odds, rebels and leaders, thinkers and artists.
Consider Sophie Newcomb Memorial College, which closed in 2006 after Hurricane Katrina. Although its doors had closed, alumnae turned their grief into action and founded the Newcomb College Institute. Its identity didn't disappear — it evolved. We now have that same opportunity.
The agreement with HWS may not be perfect. But it protects our archives and endowment and provides a platform for storytelling, mentorship and scholarship. This is not an ending — it’s a transition. And it is ours to shape.
Legacy is not about a place. Legacy is about identity. And we carry that with us — wherever we go.
Margaret “Maggie” Mahr lives in Hammondsport. She is a member of Wells College Class of 2011.
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