WILLIAMSBURG — As the United States celebrates its 250th birthday, William & Mary will be celebrating its 333rd with notable civic leaders and “America’s Storyteller” joining in the festivities.
Award-winning documentary filmmaker Ken Burns and Virginia Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger will speak at the Charter Day ceremony, starting at 3:30 p.m. Feb. 6 at Kaplan Arena, the university announced. Charter Day marks William & Mary’s founding in 1693 through a British royal charter.
Burns and Spanberger will receive honorary degrees at the event, and Robert M. Gates ’65, L.H.D. ’98 will be reinvested as the university’s chancellor for an unprecedented third term, the university said. A former secretary of defense who served under presidents of both political parties, Gates is the longest-serving chancellor in the university’s history. His reappointment was unanimously approved by the Board of Visitors in November.
“The Alma Mater of the Nation has shaped civic leaders since 1693. At the quarter millennium, we honor our community’s role establishing U.S. democracy and ongoing work to strengthen it,” said President Katherine A. Rowe.
“It is fitting we recognize a trio of leaders who have dedicated themselves to this work at Charter Day. In Chancellor Gates, we have a patriot who puts duty over partisanship. We are proud that he will honor his alma mater with a third term. Likewise, Spanberger has dedicated her career to public service. Celebrated documentarian Ken Burns illuminates our country’s history in order to meet the challenges of this moment.”
The university noted Burns has won countless awards for his documentaries that explore significant moments in history — and the people who shaped them. His latest documentary, now available on PBS, explores the American Revolution.
Spanberger, who attended William & Mary early in her undergraduate career, will be inaugurated as the commonwealth’s first woman governor on Jan. 17. It has long been a William & Mary tradition to invite Virginia’s newly elected governor to receive an honorary degree and speak at Charter Day, it explained.
The ceremony is free and open to the public. People attending in person must adhere to the university’s clear bag policy. The event will also be streamed online.