HWS Commencement Speaker Begins Next Chapter in Neuroscience

When Randy Hong took the stage as commencement speaker for the Hobart and William Smith Colleges Class of 2026, he reflected on a college experience that had taken him in unexpected directions while always remaining rooted in the same purpose: helping others.

Randy described his path to graduation as nonlinear. “When I arrived at Hobart and William Smith, I planned to study psychology with the goal of becoming a social worker. Growing up, experiences with unhoused communities and watching friends and family immigrate in the wake of the Vietnamese diaspora shaped my desire to build a career centered on serving others.”

My successes are not just my own—they belong to everyone who took a chance on me. So many people believed in me long before I believed in myself.

As he explored those interests, Randy realized there was more than one way to make an impact. Although psychology ultimately proved not the right fit, Randy found himself drawn to neuroscience.

At the same time, he recognized that understanding science alone would not be enough. “I wanted to understand the impact of my goal,” he said.

That realization led him to pair neuroscience with a second major in public health studies, allowing him to explore both the scientific and societal dimensions of improving people’s lives.

During his time at Hobart and William Smith, Randy conducted research at the intersection of engineering and neuroscience, helping develop prosthetic technologies designed to improve the lives of people with paraplegia and amputations.

This fall, he will continue to build on those experiences as a graduate student at the University of California, Davis, where he will pursue a doctorate in neuroscience with support from a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Training Grant.

Reflecting on his college experience during his commencement address, Randy returned to one lesson that had shaped his journey as a Posse Scholar: Success is rarely achieved alone.

“My successes are not just my own—they belong to everyone who took a chance on me,” says Randy. “As one of the first people in my family to graduate from college, the feeling I carry with me most is gratitude. So many people believed in me long before I believed in myself.”