Strength to Strength Campaign
Chancellor Bill Graham
Bill Graham ’61 well remembers his years in residence while a student at Trinity College.
So strong was the sense of camaraderie at Trinity, he says, that joining a fraternity, which was common at other colleges, was not necessary.
Now back at Trinity after a long and distinguished career as a Member of Parliament, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Defence, Graham is helping to foster the elements of the College he says make it unique. Just before being sworn in as Trinity’s 12th Chancellor in 2007, he declared: “Trinity is a great institution and it has evolved through the times, and when I’m there I would like specifically to contribute to the International Relations program.”
A man of his word, Graham has indeed contributed to the IR program, but he didn’t stop there. He and his wife, Cathy, also generously donated $1 million to the Strength to Strength Campaign, to be used for whatever Campaign priorities Trinity saw fit. And as Chancellor, Graham has devoted countless hours to the College – most recently in the form of the prestigious Conversations with the Chancellor series.
Graham acknowledges that the undergraduate experience of today is different than it was when he was a student, but he sees the changes as positive: “Students are doing more hands-on activities, and they’re more involved in direct issues and causes.” Colleges and universities must adapt too, he says, to continue to provide students with experiences they can take forward and contribute to life and society as a whole. “Trinity is one of the best examples of that kind of institution.”
