This event is intended to open the dialogue between Bard and our Hudson business community as we enter an important new chapter—one shaped by years of educational partnership and a transformative real estate gift which positions Bard as the city’s largest landowner. We hope this offers an opportunity to strengthen our collaboration, deepen the trust, and envision a shared future for Hudson.

As many of you know, Bard College’s relationship with Hudson has been growing for years through educational partnerships such as Bard Early College Hudson Valley and the Bard Civic Academy, both of which support local students in developing academic and civic leadership skills. The recent gift of the Galvan Foundation’s real-estate portfolio has expanded this relationship in a significant way, bringing new opportunities as well as understandable questions for our business community. As the Hudson Business Coalition, our role is to ensure that the voices of Hudson’s business owners are part of this evolving dialogue. This roundtable is intended to be an open forum to engage with Bard’s leadership to understand how Bard’s growing presence—educationally, civically, and now as a major property holder—can best support an inclusive and vibrant future for our community.

This event is for business owners in Hudson to meet Bard as the Galvan gift is being finalized and is likely to include some commercial real estate. This is not a forum for speaking about the residential properties that are being considered as part of the Gift to Bard College. Bard will be holding a free public event in an appropriate venue in early 2026 to allow for residents and community members to better understand the gift as it is finalized. For information regarding future public events please look to Bard Communications Office.

Your voice is essential to this conversation. Our upcoming round table, facilitated by Mark Allen, will draw directly from the questions and topics you submit in advance. We've extended the window for advanced questions to December 2nd and invite you to anonymously share concise, thoughtful topics or direct questions (1–2 sentences) that reflect the issues or opportunities most important to you and your business. Please use the link below to submit your questions and topics.

Advanced Questions can be submitted at the below link:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeHU0P2YOuFwB1EBwR_a_oYzGIsdVIHrna__9O9ahfo8pCq5A/viewform?usp=publish-editor

All advance questions are due by 12/2

Round Table with Bard College Leadership

Round Table with Bard College Leadership