The Passing of Stephen R. Birrell ’64

To the Williams community, As we announced last week, Stephen Birrell ’64, who worked at Williams for 25 years, died last Wednesday, May 17. Williams has lost a beloved member of our community, and I write today with a full commemoration. Steve’s many contributions to the college were profound and… Continue reading »

Further Graffiti on Haystack Monument

To the Williams community, The Haystack Monument was defaced again late Friday night, in a way very similar to the first incident. This time the slogans were “Hell is hot,” “Shame on you,” and “Ouch” as well as an obscenity.  I… Continue reading »

Graffiti on Haystack Monument

Williams faculty, staff, students, Just after Saturday midnight a Campus Safety officer, responding to a report, found that the Haystack Monument in Mission Park had been defaced with spray-painted graffiti. The graffiti included an obscenity along with the words and phrases “Pagan Rule,” “Blood,” “Ouch,” and “Hail Satan.”… Continue reading »

Summary of the April 2023 Board of Trustees meeting

To the Williams community, The Board of Trustees convened for their April 2023 meeting here last week. Following is a high-level summary of the topics they covered during sessions all day Friday and Saturday morning. The Board heard and discussed a presentation by Dean of Admission and Student Financial Services… Continue reading »

Announcing our next dean of faculty

To the Williams community, I am pleased to report that I have offered the position of Dean of the Faculty to Lara Shore-Sheppard, Kimberly A. ’96 and Robert R. ’62 Henry Professor of Economics, and she has accepted. Lara will assume the deanship on July 1. Lara, who joined Williams… Continue reading »

Gaudino Scholar Appointment

To the Williams Community, I am pleased to report that Amy Holzapfel, Professor of Theater, has agreed to serve as the college’s next Gaudino Scholar. Her three-year appointment to this post will begin July 1, 2023. Amy will be the 18th faculty member to hold this title. The position… Continue reading »

The Passing of Tony Williams

Dear colleagues, Williams mourns the loss of Dining staff member Anthony Duane (Tony) Williams, who died at home in North Adams last Tuesday, December 13. He was 61 years old. Born in Elmira, NY, to Ernest and Catherine (Black) Williams, Tony attended Elmira High School and worked for many… Continue reading »

The Death of Jay Pasachoff

Williams faculty, students and staff, I write, with sadness, to let you know that Jay Pasachoff, Field Memorial Professor of Astronomy, Director of the Hopkins Observatory and Chair of the Astronomy Department, died this morning. Jay joined Williams in 1972 and taught here for more than 50 years. He was… Continue reading »