Sophie Kerr Week 2026 Recap
Sophie Kerr Week 2026: A Celebration of Writing, Careers, and Legacy
Washington College's American Marketing Association is thrilled to share the success of our 4th Annual Sophie Kerr Week, held February 2-4, 2026. This three-day celebration brought together students, faculty, alumni, and distinguished speakers to honor Sophie Kerr's remarkable legacy and explore the many pathways a writing career can take.
Sophie Kerr Week has become a cherished tradition at Washington College, and this year's events exceeded all expectations. In collaboration with the Department of English, Sigma Tau Delta (the English Honor Society), the Rose O'Neill Literary House, the Sophie Kerr Office, and the Career Center, we created a dynamic series of events that allowed students to make meaningful connections while learning about marketing themselves and pursuing their passions.
On Tuesday, February 3rd, we welcomed back alumna Amy Rohn '18 to the Rose O'Neill Literary House. Amy, an English major with a creative writing minor, now works in Sales at Simon & Schuster, one of the "Big Five" publishing houses. Moderated by English professor Dr. Charles, Amy's talk offered invaluable insights into her journey from Washington College to Brooklyn, where she now lives with her roommates and two cats. When she's not working in the competitive world of publishing sales, Amy enjoys reading, cross-stitching, and attending concerts. Her candid discussion about navigating the publishing industry and building a career after graduation resonated deeply with students considering their own post-college paths.
The week kicked off on Monday, February 2nd with our Campus Publications: Student Editor's Panel at The Egg. Moderated by Sheri Swayne, Editor-in-Chief of The Collegian, this engaging discussion featured the leadership teams from all four of Washington College's on-campus publications. Julianna Nelson-Gaudette (Managing Editor of The Pegasus), Evelyn Lucado (Editor-in-Chief of The Elm), and Liam Siobhan Luckey (Managing Editor of the Washington College Review) joined Sheri to share the unique attributes of each publication, their editorial processes, and how students can get involved. The panel gave attendees a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to bring each publication to life and the creative decision-making that goes into campus journalism and literary work.
Throughout the week, we raised awareness of Sophie Kerr's extraordinary contributions to Washington College through our Sophie Kerr Week social media campaign. Her generous donation continues to support students to this day, funding the largest undergraduate writing prize in the country. This legacy reminds us that writing is a core value at Washington College and an essential skill necessary for any career path.
Thank you to all the speakers, moderators, collaborating organizations, and attendees who made this year's Sophie Kerr Week our best yet. We're already looking forward to next year's celebration!
The week culminated on Wednesday, February 4th with the prestigious Richard L. Harwood Lecture in American Journalism, presented by John J. Harwood at Decker Theater. For more than three decades, John Harwood has covered the White House, Congress, national politics, and the economy for America's most prestigious news organizations. He has interviewed every president from George H.W. Bush to Joe Biden and received an Emmy nomination for his hour-long live CNBC town hall with President Barack Obama. The lecture, moderated by Professor Roy Kesey, Assistant Director of the Rose O'Neill Literary House, honored the legacy of Richard L. Harwood, a distinguished journalist who became a trustee, journalism advisor, and adjunct professor at Washington College. Richard Harwood's dedication to truth and beauty in journalism continues to inspire, and having his son present this year's lecture made the event particularly special.