From the Head of School: The Enduring Spirit of Curiosity

Every generation that passes through Hopkins inherits something intangible but invaluable: a culture that champions thinking deeply, asking boldly, and learning with purpose. While the forms may evolve—new buildings, new schedules, new curriculum—the spirit of curiosity endures at Hopkins, and this ethos is what equips our students to meet a complex and changing world.

Many of history’s most meaningful breakthroughs, across disciplines and pursuits began the same way: with someone willing to question and to wonder. Curiosity is often described as a trait, but I think of it more as a practice; the habit of leaning in and not settling for easy answers. Curiosity is what moves learning at Hopkins beyond mastery and into the realm of discovery, and it’s why the theme of this issue of Views from the Hill is The Enduring Spirit of Curiosity.

You’ll see that spirit reflected throughout these pages. It lives in a group of Hopkins students who helped transform a Latin textbook into theater and carried their creativity across the Atlantic to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. It appears in our look inside the Junior School, where our seventh and eighth graders build not just academic knowledge, but confidence and independence. It echoes in the story of alumnus Andy Huszar ’91, whose fearless curiosity led him from finance to fashion and into a purpose-driven career. And it endures in the voices of faculty and staff whose milestones we celebrate each year—educators and colleagues whose exceptional tenure of service reflects a lifelong commitment to learning, growth, and community.

Curiosity also shapes how Hopkins evolves as an institution.

This winter, we announced plans for the Gibbs Center for Innovation, a new academic facility designed to support some of our rapidly growing programs and create new opportunities for interdisciplinary learning. More than a building, the Center represents a belief that students learn best when they are given space to ask questions and follow where they lead. Whether in robotics, computer science, scientific research, digital media, or academic support, the new facility will enhance teaching and learning on the Hill, preparing students not just to absorb information, but to apply it in meaningful ways.

The Gibbs Center emerged directly from Hopeful Youths: Renewing Hopkins’ Promise in the 21st Century, our strategic plan shaped by more than 1,000 voices across the Hopkins community. At its heart, Hopeful Youths asks us to honor Hopkins’ historic strengths while thoughtfully adapting to a rapidly evolving world. Its four pillars—academic excellence, global citizenship, student well-being, and thoughtful campus stewardship—guide our work every day, helping us design programs and experiences that reflect both who we have been and who we are becoming.

One of the great privileges of leading Hopkins is seeing how curiosity manifests across generations: in students discovering new interests, teachers refining their craft, alumni returning to share hard-earned wisdom, and in colleagues who continue to grow after decades on the Hill. These stories remind us that education is not static. It is a living process—one that invites us to keep learning, keep questioning, and keep imagining what’s next.

I hope this issue of Views from the Hill offers a window into that ongoing journey. Whether you are reading as a student, parent, alum, faculty member, or friend of the School, I hope you’ll see how curiosity connects our past to our present, and how it will continue to shape the lives of young people at Hopkins, both today and in the future.

With gratitude,
Matt Glendinning, Head of School