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President Fisher's Monday Morning Message

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A Bold Story. A Gold Celebration.

September 28, 2026

"Fortune favors the bold."
— Virgil, The Aeneid

Good morning BW,

In 1845, our founder, John Baldwin, made a bold decision that changed generations of lives and helped shape the future of Northeast Ohio.

Rather than simply enjoy the success he had achieved, Baldwin chose to invest his resources in something much larger than himself: a higher education that was accessible to all qualified students, regardless of gender or financial position. He was willing to boldly challenge convention in pursuit of a larger vision.

As we prepare for our annual BW Bold & Gold Homecoming Weekend, October 8-10, let's have the courage to be bold as we write our next chapter and the commitment to celebrate our "gold" – the yellow jacket spirit that inspired our founding and that fuels our future.

Please mark these dates:

  • Thursday, October 8, 8:30-10 a.m. – the weekend starts with Founders Day in the BW Center for Innovation and Growth. You can register here.

Each of the 2026 Founders Day Honorees is a bold leader who shaped the future of BW.

  • Willard E. "Bill" Carmel '52, Trustee Emeritus*
  • George Boyer '51, Trustee Emeritus
  • Dr. Indira Gesink, Professor of History
  • Dr. Neal Malicky, President Emeritus*
  • Suzanne Strew, Professor Emerita

*Honored posthumously

  • Friday, October 9, 5:30 p.m. - we will induct six outstanding former BW athletes into the BW Athletics Alumni Hall of Fame:
    • Kyle Chontos '15 (Baseball)
    • Kim Gallavan '16 (Track & Field)
    • Kevin Johnson '14 (Track & Field)
    • Steve Murphy '96 (Baseball)
    • Phillip "Phil" Sahley '95 (Football)
    • Melanie Winters '16 (Track & Field)
  • Saturday, October 10, 11 a.m. – the Bold & Gold Parade begins, followed by the Homecoming Festival outside Finnie Stadium. The festival is FREE and open to all alumni, students, families, employees, neighbors and friends of Baldwin Wallace. View details and register: bw.edu/events/bold-and-gold
  • Saturday, October 10, 2 p.m. - our undefeated Yellow Jacket football team takes on the Ohio Northern Polar Bears at Finnie Stadium. Get your tickets here.

Let's celebrate a bold story still being told.

Have a great week.

Lee

Lee Fisher
President, Baldwin Wallace University

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