By Abigail Hill
At the 2026 opening convocation, Colorado College President Manya Whitaker and Student Body President Sophia Murphy ‘27 spoke about their shared desire to renew a focus on community.
Murphy focused on the student body’s shared identity and how empowerment and world-changing go hand-in-hand with community. She began by recognizing both the gift and privilege of the CC community and then shifted towards a call to action to harness community to make a difference in society.
President Whitaker followed Murphy’s speech, speaking about CC’s unique learning environment and the simultaneous rewards and challenges it brings. “While the block plan creates a shared rhythm on campus, sometimes we’re so deep in our own work it can be hard to notice anyone else,” she said.
Whitaker recognized the potential obstacles of the coming year: arduous blocks, economic uncertainty, attacks on human rights and faculty and staff adjusting to “expectations and resources align[ing] with new realities.” That struggle, she said, is where campus individuals need to find the strength to lift their heads and reach out to those around them.
“Connection need not be experienced separately from our daily hustle,” said Whitaker. “If you’re only feeling joy on block break or when you take vacations, you will struggle to get through the year without burning out.”
Shouting out different campus organizations, Whitaker shared three practical steps for experiencing joy in the CC community: recognizing and celebrating your strengths with peers, finding joy in different spaces on campus and being brave.
“It’s never been less weird to strike up a conversation with a person in the hallway,” she said.
She described returning students as those who set the tone and carry on CC traditions. For faculty and staff, Whitaker noted their pivotal role in promoting students’ wellbeing, calling them “the keepers of what makes Colorado College distinct, and the ones who make sure that distinction holds, especially in hard years.”
After acknowledging that it is an uncertain time for higher education institutions, Whitaker praised faculty, students and staff for their commitment to community. “No one is simply passing through this place. We are creating a shared experience. So let’s do so with purpose and joy.”