RICHMOND — On April 15, Lieutenant Governor Ghazala Hashmi formally launched her Literature & Government tour at William & Mary, where more than 200 students gathered for the highly anticipated inaugural lecture, marking the beginning of a unique initiative in Virginia.
The launch signals the start of a four-year, statewide effort to convene students, faculty, and community members at the intersection of literature, public life, and civic responsibility. Through this initiative, Lieutenant Governor Hashmi is bringing an academic and interdisciplinary lens to questions of leadership, democracy, and public service.
Lieutenant Governor Hashmi delivered a lecture on selected essays of The Federalist Papers written primarily by James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, as well as texts by Thomas Jefferson and George Mason. The inaugural lecture offered a compelling exploration about the debates that swirled during the drafting of the US Constitution, its ratification, and the arguments for the Bill of Rights. The lecture challenged attendees to consider how these foundational texts and ideas resonate with contemporary Virginia state government.
William & Mary President Katherine A. Rowe introduced Lieutenant Governor Hashmi. “William & Mary is honored to be the inaugural host of Lieutenant Governor Hashmi’s lecture series. It is fitting that this series begins at the Alma Mater of the Nation. Our country’s first university has been preparing innovative, civic-minded leaders for 333 years,” Rowe said.
Following the Lieutenant Governor’s lecture, Dr. Christine Nemacheck, Professor of Government and Director of the W&M Legal Scholars Program, offered observations and further reflections with the audience. “”It was wonderful to have Lieutenant Governor Hashmi engage with our students on the role our foundational texts can play in understanding our government today. Especially during times of such challenging political discourse, anchoring our discussions in these texts can provide useful frameworks for productive conversations,” Dr. Nemacheck said.
“I appreciate William & Mary for hosting my inaugural lecture and providing the opportunity to engage with young people on issues of direct importance to their lives. Examining our current society and politics through the lens of American writing – especially through the texts that defined and shaped American identity and democracy – is part of a broad conversation that every generation must take on. Too often, as we think about issues of governance and civic affairs, we reduce discussion to diatribe and leave little room for reflection, nuance, or substance. My hope is that this lecture series prompts participants to engage more with American literary traditions and to apply these texts to the concerns of our contemporary world,” Lieutenant Governor Hashmi said.
With additional stops planned across the Commonwealth, the Literature and Government tour is poised to become a defining platform for thoughtful, interdisciplinary engagement in Virginia’s public life.
The full lecture transcript and recorded lecture will be released on the Lieutenant Governor’s website in the coming days.
