The Quest Continues
Nearly 10 years after their graduation, some members of Williams’ first class of QuestBridge scholars talk about how far they have come and how they got there. To read about Williams’ connection to the QuestBridge program—and all of the college’s work to expand access to students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds—see Begins the Quest. Kenny Yim ’09 Where…
Begins the Quest
On the occasion of the graduation of Williams’ 400th QuestBridge scholar in June, the magazine looks at the college’s work to expand access to students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. To read about the first cohort of QuestBridge graduates, see The Quest Continues. “I feel like I can literally go anywhere in the world.” Like many of…
The Face of Sacrifice
Before you can understand ISIS, you need to understand the evolution of martyrdom over 13 centuries of Middle Eastern history and culture. Plus: Take a look at some of the key historical moments that shaped Afghan history and the changing definition of martyrdom “The central question that has arisen out of my preoccupation with the war…
Making Friends With the Enemy
CIA agent Jack “Cowboy” Platt ’58 was assigned to recruit KGB operative Gennadiy Vasilenko to spy for the United States. Instead, the Cold War enemies forged a secret and remarkable friendship that lasted the rest of their lives.
Giving God a Backbeat
When assistant professor of Africana Studies VaNatta Ford heard the new Kendrick Lamar song “FEEL,” she immediately thought of the old spiritual “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child.” Both the spiritual, from the era of slavery, and the rap song, which came out in 2017, use repetition to reinforce a message about our deepest…
Depression in Adolescent Girls
Associate Professor of Psychology Catherine Stroud recently completed a three-year longitudinal study examining the development of depression in adolescent girls. With the help of Williams undergraduates—whom she trained in interview and coding techniques—Stroud collected data about girls’ stress levels, their responses to stress and whether their responses can correlate with the development of depression. WILLIAMS…
En Plein Air
From “The Forests of Antarctica,” by Mike Glier ’75, professor of art. Oil on a variety of grounds, including canvas, paper and panel, ranging in size from 12×12 in. to 78×128 in. 2012-present. “The Forests of Antarctica,” a new painting series by Williams art professor Mike Glier ’75, addresses the environmental implications of place and…
Docs: Under the Influence?
A new study co-authored by economics professor Matthew Chao and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in May links doctors’ decisions to prescribe certain drugs to their interactions with pharmaceutical sales representatives, including the promotional gifts and free meals that reps provide to doctors. Chao, a behavioral economist who blends insights from…
Threats to the Republic
A new course developed by political scientists Justin Crowe ’03 and Nicole Mellow provides students with tools for deciphering extreme political rhetoric in an America they say is out of sorts. How worried should we be—and what precisely should we be worried about—as a new era of American leadership begins? That’s one of the central…
A Closer Look: Performing Sculpture
Amy Podmore, professor of art, and Deb Brothers, costume director and lecturer in theater, taught a new course in the spring: The Sculptural Costume and Its Performance Potential. Students studied visual artists such as Nick Cave and Hélio Oiticica and learned how wearable art is central to Bauhaus dance, Carnival and Dada performance. They also…
In Memoriam
Retired professors Raymond Chang and Richard O. Rouse Jr. passed away in April. Chang was 77, and Rouse was 95. Chang, the Halford R. Clark Professor of Natural Sciences, emeritus, came to Williams in 1968. A prolific author, he produced textbooks on chemistry well into his retirement and was the author of several children’s books…
Morey Named VP for College Relations
Megan Morey joined the campus community as vice president of college relations on May 1. Morey most recently served in an analogous role as chief advancement officer at Amherst College. Before that, she worked at Williams from 2000 to 2007, first as a senior development officer and then as director of leadership giving. Now she…
Four Alumni Receive Guggenheim Fellowships
Four Williams alumni were awarded Guggenheim fellowships this year: Robin Broad ’76, a professor at American University’s School of International Service; novelist Fiona Maazel ’97; poet and MacArthur fellow Claudia Rankine ’86; and choreographer Will Rawls ’00. The grants are made freely and with no conditions, allowing the fellows—a total of 173 scholars, artists and…
At A Glance: 50 Years of Environmental Studies
In 1967, newly hired professor Andrew Scheffey ’50 taught Williams’ first environmental studies course: Resource Policy and the Environment. That fall, President Jack Sawyer ’39 named Scheffey director of a newly created Center for Environmental Studies (CES)—a first for a liberal arts college. “Almost no other subject has as broad a spectrum of contact with…
New Trustees Join Board
On July 1, Williams welcomed Leila H. Jere ’91 and Jillian E. Charles ’91 to its Board of Trustees. Jere is vice president for customer success at Full Circle Insights, a marketing data company based in California. She previously served as president of the Society of Alumni, a member of the Executive Committee and president…
Ephs Bring Home Directors’ Cup
After trailing Washington University in St. Louis through the fall and winter, eight Eph teams combined to score a spring record of 630 points, helping to capture the college’s fifth straight Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup. The Ephs have won the cup 20 times in the 22-year history of the award, presented by the National Association…
Bicentennial Medalists to be Honored
During Convocation on Sept. 16, five alumni will receive Bicentennial Medals for distinguished service in their fields. This year’s recipients are: Ira Mickenberg ’72, founder and director of the National Defender Training Project, which seeks to improve the quality of legal representation for indigent criminal defendants; Dr. Richard Besser ’81, CEO of the Robert Wood…
Carter Wins NSF CAREER Grant
Assistant biology professor Matt Carter has received a prestigious CAREER grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The five-year, $586,000 grant, awarded to junior faculty, will support his research into sleep and wakefulness. His research project, “Bidirectional Control of Sleep and Wakefulness by the Hypothalamic Arcuate Nucleus,” studies two populations of neurons to better understand…
Cool Geeks
Williams College’s 228th Commencement took place June 4 against the stunning back- drop of Sawyer Library. President Adam Falk conferred degrees on 525 seniors. Another 13 students in the History of Art program and 30 fellows from the Center for Development Economics received master’s degrees. Commencement speaker Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie told the Class of 2017,…
Ready to Soar
Yuv Khosla ’17 left campus in June with more than just a diploma. He also completed his private pilot’s license. The economics and religion major recently returned home to New Delhi, India, to join his father’s micro nance business. He plans to pursue higher levels of flight training and one day hopes to start a…
Diversity and Complexity
The Williams student of today must learn to thrive in an ever-shifting world. Members of this generation will probably hold more jobs over their lifetimes, live in more places and encounter people from a greater variety of backgrounds than many of us imagined possible at their age. Yet this same generation is in many ways…
Tweets
My goodness @williamscollege, the spring2017 issue of #williamsmag is visually, aesthetically and conceptually stunning! —Rhon Manigault-Bryant, Williams associate dean of the faculty and Africana studies professor, @doctorrmb, March 15, 2017
Humble Beginnings
An essay by President Emeritus John Chandler (“From Humble Beginnings,” spring 2017) tells the astonishing story of his personal journey. I hope all readers will appreciate it. Alongside the remarks from President Adam Falk about the college’s extraordinary commitment to financial aid (“Lifting Us Up”), I am even prouder to be an Eph. —BOB RECKMAN…
Impact Worthy
I was excited to read “Impact Worthy” (spring 2017). One of my clearest memories as an undergrad was when the provost came into my geology class and drew a pie chart on the board showing us where the money that paid for our Williams education came from and how it was spent. That’s when I…
The Lesson of a Broken Egg
In her exploration of Russian culture, Darra Goldstein amassed a collection of books that paint a vivid picture of life in Soviet Russia. On the occasion of her retirement as the Willcox B. and Harriet M. Adsit Professor of Russian, she is donating more than 100 volumes to the Chapin Library. Her collection includes Russkie…
Culinary Diplomacy
During her 34 years at Williams, Darra Goldstein taught classes on Russian language, literature, art and culture, and she introduced food studies into the curriculum. When she was approached last year to write what would be her sixth cookbook—and her second on Russian cuisine—her first reaction was that she had already covered that ground. How…
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