Sydney Shoulders '26: A Magnetic Presence Uplifting Voices

The College of William and Mary student is concluding their undergraduate career with a focus on amplifying marginalized voices through literary arts and legal advocacy.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 8:06pm

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a stack of hardcover books in vibrant shades of teal, magenta, and sunshine yellow, repeated in a tight grid pattern, conceptually representing the amplification of diverse voices through literary arts.Shoulders' work to elevate underrepresented perspectives through creative and legal channels reflects a growing movement among young leaders to advocate for social justice.Williamsburg Today

Sydney Shoulders, a double-major in English and philosophy at the College of William and Mary, is concluding their undergraduate career with a focus on amplifying marginalized voices through literary arts and legal advocacy. Shoulders has held a leadership role as the co-editor-in-chief of The Gallery, the institution's literary arts publication, and is also a member of the Innocence Club's executive team.

Why it matters

Shoulders' work to uplift marginalized voices through literary and legal channels reflects a growing movement among young activists and leaders to use their platforms to advocate for underrepresented communities. Their efforts align with broader calls for greater diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education and beyond.

The details

As co-editor-in-chief of The Gallery, Shoulders works alongside co-editor Ashleigh Pyle '26 to oversee a publication that prints once per semester, featuring student contributions of poetry, prose, photography, and art. The Gallery operates through a collaborative process where the club meets weekly to review peer submissions anonymously, allowing artists to decide whether they wish to be present for feedback. Beyond the literary publication, Shoulders is also a member of the Innocence Club's executive team, which aligns with their broader academic and professional trajectory toward the legal field.

  • Shoulders has been a member of The Gallery club since their freshman fall.
  • Shoulders is scheduled to graduate from the College of William and Mary in May 2026.
  • Following graduation, Shoulders intends to attend law school in the fall.

The players

Sydney Shoulders

A double-major in English and philosophy at the College of William and Mary who is concluding their undergraduate career with a focus on amplifying marginalized voices through literary arts and legal advocacy.

Ashleigh Pyle

The co-editor-in-chief of The Gallery, the College of William and Mary's literary arts publication, working alongside Sydney Shoulders.

The Gallery

The College of William and Mary's literary arts publication, which prints student contributions of poetry, prose, photography, and art once per semester.

Innocence Club

A student organization at the College of William and Mary that Shoulders is a member of the executive team for, aligning with their trajectory toward a legal career.

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What they’re saying

“All of our submissions are anonymous, which we think is really important because it allows the artist to choose to be in the room if that's something that they desire, if they want to hear feedback, We just collect student art and try to spread it and put it out on campus.”

— Sydney Shoulders, Co-Editor-in-Chief, The Gallery

What’s next

After graduating in May 2026, Shoulders plans to attend law school in the fall, continuing their efforts to uplift marginalized voices through a career as a public defender.

The takeaway

Shoulders' work to amplify underrepresented voices through literary and legal channels reflects a growing movement among young activists and leaders to use their platforms to advocate for greater diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education and beyond.