The Cypher Society
The William & Mary Cypher Society was established in 1989 by the Board of Visitors of William & Mary. All members of the Board are automatically enrolled as members of the William & Mary Cypher Society immediately upon completion of their term of office or their service on the Board of Visitors if a full term is not completed. Widows or widowers of deceased Board of Visitors members become members of the Cypher Society upon the death of the Visitor.
Fostering a relationship between the university and its alumni, the Cypher Society performs special projects on behalf of William & Mary. In 2007, the Cypher Society honored Reverend James Blair and Sarah Blair by helping to restore their tombs on Jamestown Island. Reverend Blair was the university's first Rector and President.
The Cypher Society holds an annual meeting during which it is updated on the affairs of the university and the Board of Visitors by the Rector and the President. At the annual meeting, the election of officers and executive committee members and the transaction of business are brought before the Society.
Meetings of the William & Mary Cypher Society are held at William & Mary. All Society records are maintained at William & Mary.
2024-2025 Officers
President: John E. Littel HON '23, P '22
Vice-President: Lynn M. Dillon '75
Secretary: H. Edward (Chip) Mann '77
The President is the principal officer of the Cypher Society and presides over all of the affairs of the Cypher Society.
In the absence of the President, the Vice President performs the duties of the President.
The Secretary keeps minutes of the annual and special meetings of the Cypher Society and is custodian of the membership roll and Cypher Society records.
The three officers plus four at-large members make up the Executive Committee – the four at-large members are:
James H. Dillard II '59
Susan Aheron Magill '72, D.P.S. '20
Shawn M. Smith '95
Henry C. Wolf '64, J.D. '66
Read the Cypher Society Bylaws (pdf)
