a view of a classroom and students through a glass wall

Academic Centers

Engage. Ignite. Innovate. Lead.

Hampden-Sydney's knowledge centers are where ideas take action. Whether pursuing entrepreneurial ideas, investigating political structures, interpreting history, or writing persuasive arguments, students explore, practice, and hone their skills so they can go on to become tomorrow's CEOs, business founders, military officers, college presidents, and civic and political leaders.
professor writing a sentence with a student on the whiteboard

The Pannill Center for Rhetoric and Communication

Teaching young men how to express themselves clearly and confidently

The Pannill Center for Rhetoric and Communication places the College's central academic program in the physical center of campus:  the Rhetoric Program is the cornerstone of the academic experience, was established nearly 50 years ago, and is based on a 1978 faculty resolution that states, "All Hampden-Sydney graduates will write and speak competently."

Pannill Center

men walking down stairs with a portrait of Sam Wilson in the foreground

Wilson Center for Leadership in the Public Interest

Preparing men of character for lives of consequence

The Wilson Center for Leadership in the Public Interest, established in 1996 and named for the College's former president Lt. Gen. Samuel V. Wilson(U.S. Army, Ret.), provides students with the opportunity to explore, practice, and hone their leadership skills so that they may become tomorrow's CEOs, business founders, military officers, and civic and political leaders.

Wilson Center

studernt brainstorming ideas on a whiteboard

Flemming Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Supporting student innovators who shape the future with insight, integrity, and initiative

The Flemming Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation empowers students to think boldly, act ethically, and lead courageously in a rapidly changing world. We cultivate entrepreneurial mindsets through a liberal arts lens, foster real-world innovation, and connect students with alumni, mentors, and industry leaders. 

Flemming Center

students sifting through archaeological finds on a dog site

Center for Public History

Knowledgeably and civilly examining and interpreting history for a public audience

The Center for Public History offers an interdisciplinary approach to courses, programs, extracurricular events, and internship opportunities focusing on five broad areas of public history work: archeology, archives, historic preservation, museum studies, and oral history.

Center for Public History

American Flag waving on a flagpole

Center for the Study of Political Economy

Engaging in academic scholarship and critical public policy analysis

The Center for the Study of Political Economy (CSPE) is a co-curricular center with the mission to motivate students to create a more just and prosperous world through scholarship in classical liberal political economy.

Center for Political Economy

a close-up image of men shaking hands at a career fair

Ferguson Career Center

Welcoming students, alumni and employers at any stage in their process

The Ferguson Career Center not only helps students navigate the journey from exploring a career to finding a job, but it is also dedicated to supporting alumni and building success in whatever path they choose to pursue. 

Fergusion Career Center