To the Williams community, With deep sadness, I write to tell you that first-year student Alex Kemp died yesterday, after a skiing accident on Monday. I know you will join me in thinking about Alex’s family; his friends, teammates and coaches on the track and cross country teams; his entrymates… Continue reading »
To the Williams community, I write with the promised commemoration of former Professor of Mathematics Neil Grabois, who passed away on October 7, at the age of 88. While at Williams, Neil also served as Dean of the College, Dean of the Faculty and Provost (twice) before leaving in 1988… Continue reading »
Dear Williams colleagues, I write with the promised remembrance of our colleague Karen Kwitter, the late Ebenezer Fitch Professor of Astronomy, Emerita. Relationships were central to Karen’s work and life: she had a gift for connection that helped her translate advanced research ideas into accessible terms for her students. As… Continue reading »
To the Williams community, Everyone at the college was sent a Clery timely warning email last night about a hateful incident on campus. I am writing about this and other recent identity-based attacks on community members. We have to resist hatred in all its forms, and these latest incidents are… Continue reading »
Williams colleagues, I write with the promised commemoration of Ed Derby, Sr., who retired in 2022 with the title of Lead Power Plant Operator, and passed away on August 8, 2024, after an illness. Ed joined Williams in 1982 and worked here for 40 years. Born in Pittsfield, MA, he… Continue reading »
To the Williams community, Following is a summary of the Fall 2024 Board of Trustees meeting, held last Friday and Saturday, September 27 and 28. We were joined at this meeting by our newest Board members, Trustees Joel Hellman ’84 and Mary Kipp ’89; Alumni Trustees Cheryl Robinson Ocansey ’85… Continue reading »
To the Williams community, I write to honor the death of retired Director of Mental Health Services Dr. John Allen Miner, who passed away peacefully at home on September 7 at the age of 74, surrounded by loved ones. John joined Williams in 1998 as a staff psychiatrist after working… Continue reading »
Dear Williams students, faculty and staff, As promised, I write today to catch you up on news from the last several months and highlight some of the many, many (many!) programs planned for this fall. It all makes for a long message—evidence of the level of activity in every area… Continue reading »
In October 2023, amidst the violence in the Middle East, I published a campus letter explaining why I was not sending out an institutional statement in response to the tragedy, and why I had concluded that it was unhelpful for me to issue statements from the college in response… Continue reading »