President, Hobart & William Smith Colleges
Mark D. Gearan is the President of the Hobart and William Smith Colleges, returning to HWS in 2022 after previously serving as President of the institution from 1999-2017. Gearan was the Director of the Institute of Politics at the Harvard Kennedy School from 2018-2022.
A leading voice at the intersection of education and public service, Gearan has held numerous leadership roles in American politics, government, and higher education.
His public service has included posts in the Clinton Administration as White House Deputy Chief of Staff, White House Communications Director, and Director of the Peace Corps. Gearan has served as Chair of the Board of the Corporation for National and Community Service and several higher education organizations. A cum laud graduate of Harvard College and Georgetown University Law Center, he is the recipient of 13 Honorary Degrees. He is married to Mary Herlihy Gearan and they have two daughters, Madeleine and Kathleen.