Columns, Essays, and Speeches

The world’s issues have always been Williams’ issues. Our campus may be tucked away in the northwestern corner of Massachusetts, but the college and our people are continually shaped by broad social crosscurrents. Through our educational work, and our moral and political agency, we can influence that larger world in… Continue reading »

Williams faculty, staff and students, We’re well into an active semester of Strategic Planning, so I wanted to send another update on what we’ve accomplished and what to expect. This fall, the working groups and strategic academic initiatives have held more than 120 campus outreach meetings… Continue reading »

Welcome. I’m honored to host my first Claiming Williams. This day is an important point in the year, thanks to the breadth of programming and community impact. The nature of the event was shaped by the day’s origins in student and community action, after some disruptive and upsetting bias incidents… Continue reading »

Keynote at the 2018 meetings of the Association for Jewish Studies December 16, 2018 Boston, MA Some of you may have heard the now-famous anecdote about how the Air Force first built jet fighter cockpits based on the “average” pilot body shape and size, which in practice… Continue reading »

Financial aid is Williams. It's how we seek out students from every part of society and build an intentional community. Continue reading »

We can’t see our way to a harmonious future by looking away from our past. Continue reading »

Williams is committed to sustainability in all its many dimensions. Continue reading »

Ours is an institution of higher learning; such learning cannot occur without broad and enthusiastic exposure to a wide range of ideas and perspectives. Continue reading »