5 / Summer Opportunities
3 / Transformational Gifts
The Briar Wire Volume 12, Issue 3 | September 2026
Dear fellow alumnae and friends,
ABOV E
President Hutson greets prospective students and families.
Greetings from Sweet Briar, where we just welcomed our new and returning students to campus! We kicked off the academic year with Opening Convocation, and students launched into their fall semester of classes, athletics and riding, and activities among classes and clubs. While we won’t have the final fall census of our student population until the second week of September, enrollment is trending positively. As of Aug. 14, when we welcomed our new students, the number of deposits was 22% over last year’s number at the same time. I hope each of you had a wonderful summer filled with rest, relaxation, and time with those you hold dear. I was traveling the country for much of it, visiting with alumnae to share Sweet Briar with them and ask them to renew their support for our college. We held a retreat with Cabinet members, conducted internal assessments of our successes from the 20252026 academic year and our opportunities for
2026-2027, and developed our work plans for the coming year. While on campus, I met with many summertime visitors, including alumnae, Summer Arts & Writing Retreat participants, leadership of the summer camps we hosted, and other guests. I even did some painting with Sweet Work Weeks, and found a new appreciation for the work they do! Our community has so much to look forward to this year. In September, we will launch the year with the Richmond Symphony. Shortly thereafter, we will celebrate Founders’ Day with the traditional events. At the beginning of October, we’ll host parents and families for Families Weekend, during which we’ll also celebrate Sweet Briar’s equestrian legacy at our 100th Annual Horse Show! Later in October, we’ll welcome alumnae and friends for the 125th Anniversary Celebration Weekend (Oct. 23-25). And before you know it, students will head home for Thanksgiving and Winter Breaks, coming back to campus in the new year to participate in their first January Term (J-Term) as a part of the new academic calendar. You can see a schedule of events on the last page of this issue or by visiting sbc.edu/calendar. I continue to be impressed with our students in their academic, athletic, equestrian, and co-curricular achievements. They are able to reach their full potential thanks to the program enhancements, faculty support, additional scholarship funding, and stewardship of our natural and built environment that is made possible by gifts from our alumnae and friends. We are exceedingly grateful and fortunate for this ongoing support, and ask that you renew your gift each year. Every gift truly makes a difference to our students, and to Sweet Briar’s future success. While the Sweet Briar Fund includes the stewardship and maintenance of the College’s natural and built environment, that ongoing