Hive: My Word for 2026

“Hive” is my guiding light for 2026.

My word for 2026 is “hive.”

What Hive Means to Me

To me, hive is about community — the people I learn with, the people I care for, and the communities that sustain me. It’s the scholars, educators, and peace practitioners I work alongside, and it’s my personal community: family, friends, neighbors — the people who make life meaningful.

Hive is conversations over coffee, book clubs, welcoming a new cohort of doctoral students, creating a community of belonging for dissertation students, designing courses that foster collaboration and engagement, yoga practice, dreaming up new ways to support student learning, and collaborative writing.

We Thrive Together

Hive also reminds me of how we thrive together. Each of us brings something unique, and when we come together, we create something bigger — and more beautiful — than ourselves. For me, this is what leadership, teaching, and living well are all about: contributing, connecting, and flourishing together.

This year, I’m carrying hive as a guiding light — a reminder to nurture the communities I’m part of, to listen deeply, and to bring heart into my work and relationships.

Nurturing Your Own Hive

Take a moment to reflect: what’s your word or theme for 2026?

How will you nurture your own “hive” this year — in your work, your community, or your life?