Hill Outlines a Vision for a Liberal Arts Institution on the Rise

Randolph-Macon College formally inaugurated Dr. Michael E. Hill as its 16th President on Friday, April 24, 2026, welcoming national voices, campus leaders, alumni, and students to mark a defining moment in College history, and to help articulate a bold, forward-looking vision rooted in its enduring mission. 

The ceremony and surrounding events highlighted Randolph-Macon’s momentum as an institution on the rise, as well as its renewed commitment to its mission of developing “mind and character” in every student—a principle that has guided the College for nearly two centuries. 

In his inaugural address, Hill outlined a vision that bridges tradition and transformation: a liberal arts education that is both deeply human and decisively future-focused in an era when intelligence is increasingly artificial.

“At its heart, education is not merely about imparting information. It is about perpetual regeneration and growth everlasting, of personal exploration and formation,” President Hill remarked in his address. “It is about helping students learn how to think, how to judge, how to speak, how to listen, and ultimately, how to live.”

He emphasized that in addition to the close mentorship from faculty in the classroom, an RMC experience encompasses the full scope of student life on campus.

“An RMC education must be more than coursework. It must also be an experience of discovering one’s potential,” Hill said. “Reaffirming our long-held beliefs, our promise is to form leaders, change-makers, and citizens who go on to live lives of meaning and who believe they have an obligation to serve others.”

Hill also asserted that the critical cultivation of mind and character will also produce positive outcomes for students, in their careers and beyond.

“These foundational skills that come from a liberal arts base do not stand in opposition to innovation or professional preparation,” Hill remarked. “They give both their moral compass. They ensure that progress is guided by wisdom, not merely speed; by judgment, not merely capacity.”

A Vision Grounded in Tradition 

Hill outlined several pillars to his vision for the College, including initiatives that are already underway to respond to the evolving landscape of higher education and society. One of those priorities is the RMC Pluralism Project, a recently announced initiative designed to foster meaningful dialogue across differences, equipping students to lead in an increasingly complex and interconnected world.

He also detailed a renewed investment in the humanities and the arts, positioning them as essential—not ancillary—to a modern education. These efforts will emphasize innovative teaching, interdisciplinary collaboration, and clear pathways from intellectual exploration to meaningful careers.  

A Community Celebration

The investiture ceremony was bolstered by remarks and performances from several notable guests. Broadway star Tiffany Mann, accompanied by RMC student musicians, powerfully performed “This Is Me,” a song written by Benj Pasick and Justin Paul for the movie The Greatest Showman, an homage to President Hill’s background as a first-generation college student and inspiration for future first-gen students.

Dr. Eboo Patel, founder and president of Interfaith America, provided the formal introduction for President Hill, using the 12th-century poem The Conference of the Birds by Attar as an allegory for Hill’s presidency. In the poem, the hoopoe leads a group of birds seeking a king across seven valleys and seven mountains. The birds find only a mirror, and themselves the king.

“Communities are kings, democracies are kings,” Patel said. “It needs a leader, it needs somebody who will believe and guide. In Attar’s book, that leader was called the hoopoe. At Randolph-Macon College, that leader’s name is Michael Hill.”

Celebrated poet Kwame Alexander closed the ceremony by performing an original poem, invoking the imagery and culture of RMC, and encouraging students to “step purposefully into the work, speak confidently into the silence, and serve gratefully into the blue hour of each day,” and rousing one of the day’s several standing ovations.

Meaningful Symbols

After Board of Trustees Chair Sue Schick ‘84 officially invested Hill as RMC President, and as he shed his regalia from Vanderbilt, where he earned his doctorate in education, five RMC students—Claudia Flores ’28, Amber Bellamy ’26, Dell Boone ’27, Noah Dame ’27, and Malcom Kelleher ’28—presented President Hill with Randolph-Macon regalia, symbolizing the student body choosing him as one of their own.

President Emeritus Robert Lindgren and President Emeritus Rusty Martin also presented President Hill with RMC’s presidential medallion, emblazoned with the names of the 15 preceding presidents, a symbol of the collective wisdom of the College’s leaders.