Greetings from the Staff

Danielle Gonzalez, Employment Manager, Office of Human Resources
The Induction of Adam F. Falk as the 17th President of Williams College
Convocation, September 25, 2010

Danielle GonzalezGood afternoon Adam, ladies and gentleman; friends and colleagues.

It is an honor and a privilege to be here today representing the 750 staff members of Williams College. We take pride in playing a wide range of key roles at an institution in which a high standard of excellence is demonstrated each and every day by members throughout our diverse and vibrant campus community.

Just last week at a staff forum you said “staff are a treasure at Williams” and went on to share how inspiring it was to have dinner in your home with the custodians who work with you in Hopkins Hall. Adam, we appreciate your recognition of the staff and our valuable contributions in helping make Williams one of the premier liberal arts colleges in the nation.

My department, the Office of Human Resources, hosts monthly informal staff luncheons, bringing together librarians, campus safety officers, health and career counselors, museum curators, trades-people, cooks, dishwashers, administrative assistants, information technologists and numerous other colleagues. In the months preceding your arrival, we asked our lunch guests, “What would you like President Falk to know about the Williams staff?” They said: “We want him to know we have a strong, vibrant institution in which the staff is highly engaged. We want him to know that all of us believe that it is our role to contribute to the educational mission of the College. We want him to know we understand that, individually and collectively, we all have the opportunity to leave an indelible mark on our students. We care deeply about all aspects of the student experience in all corners of campus.”

In the past two years Williams has faced unprecedented challenges. Frankly, I am not sure how we convinced you to take the job. What facing these hurdles together has made clear is that no individual or department stands alone. The collaborative efforts of all members of the Williams community are what give us a strong foundation.

Today, we welcome you and your family: Karen, Briauna, Alex and David. We look forward to getting to know you better. As you embrace your role as Williams’ 17th president and face innumerable challenges and opportunities, we invite you to call upon us, to ask for our input, to engage us, to use our talents and resources. And to ask, “ What now can we build together?” Welcome, we are so glad you’re here.