Sydney Shoulders ’26: A Magnetic Presence Uplifting Voices

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 is scheduled to graduate in May 2026.

During their tenure at the college, Shoulders has held a leadership role as the co-editor-in-chief of The Gallery, the institution’s literary arts publication. In this capacity, 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 and the Innocence Club

The Gallery operates through a collaborative process where the club meets weekly to review peer submissions. These submissions are handled anonymously to ensure a fair selection process and to allow artists to decide whether they wish to be present for feedback.

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

Shoulders has been a member of the club since their freshman fall, noting that the organization served as a primary catalyst for their closest friendships at the college, including the relationship with the current co-editor.

Beyond the literary publication, Shoulders is a member of the Innocence Club’s executive team. This involvement aligns with their broader academic and professional trajectory toward the legal field.

Future Legal Career

Following their graduation in May 2026, Shoulders intends to attend law school in the fall. Their professional objective is to pursue a career as a public defender, continuing the effort to uplift voices and provide legal representation.