President Hallock hosts alumni, talks Spider pride and progress

The doors swung open to reveal a scene of Spider pride: more than 300 alumni gathering around small tables adorned with live flower arrangements, sipping seasonal cocktails, and collecting appetizers from passing trays. The December presidential reception brought together generations of Spiders to reconnect over shared memories and the university’s bright future. President Kevin F. Hallock participated in as many of those conversations as he could.

Hallock radiated enthusiasm as he later took the stage to field questions submitted by the alumni there. “I’m just excited — sorry,” he said with a laugh after listing some of the university’s recent achievements, from the first Rhodes Scholar in 20 years to field hockey’s Atlantic 10 championship run.

His excitement proved contagious as he highlighted the community’s vitality. Alumni from 71 class years contributed to the Spiders Helping Spiders fundraiser in 2025. The Richmond Guarantee now offers up to $5,300 per student to support unpaid summer internship and research opportunities.

Hallock’s positivity extended to navigating the current higher education landscape. While federal changes have affected higher education broadly, Richmond remains resilient. “There’s no reason not to be incredibly optimistic about the future of the university,” he said, explaining how the university stepped in to support four lost federal grants and carefully monitors international students’ visa statuses. “We didn’t have a single [international] student we were expecting to come over the summer that didn’t.”

When asked how alumni can support the university’s momentum, Hallock said,  “Come to things like this. Go to Spider athletic events. Go to reunion.” Before rejoining the attendees in the reception hall, Hallock offered his most memorable call to action: “Be proud — wear your Spider gear.” He shared how strangers stop him when they spot his Spider logo, typically asking, “Do you have a kid at Richmond?” His response never fails to bring a smile: “I have 4,000.”