Media inquiries:

It is our pleasure to assist members of the press.
You can reach us by phone or e-mail:
Jo Procter (413) 597-4279, Jo.Procter@williams.edu
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Resources for Journalists: www.williams.edu/admin/news/resources

Press Releases

Williams College Eclipse Expedition Takes up Residence in Siberia in Time for Solar Eclipse

July 24, 2008

On Friday, August 1, 2008, the moon will pass in front of the sun, blocking the everyday solar surface.

Local High School Students Doing Research at Williams College

July 16, 2008

For the 18th year running, four rising seniors from Berkshire County high schools are engaging in biological research in Williams College labs. The program, from July 7 to August 1, is supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

Fulbright Awards Announced

July 2, 2008

The Fulbright Program has awarded research fellowships to Williams College alumni Danielle Callaway '08, Charles Howard '07, Anne Peckham '08, Matthew Wilka '06, and Katharine Warren '06.

Williams College Biologist Lara Hutson Wins $220,000 NIH Grant

July 2, 2008

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded a two-year grant of $220,076 to Williams College Assistant Professor of Biology Lara D. Hutson, in support of her research on Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease or CMT.

Two Student Proposals Awarded Funding from the Kathryn Wasserman Davis 100 Projects for Peace

July 1, 2008

Williams College students Anouk Dey '09 of Toronto, Ontario, and Katherine Krieg '08 of Milwaukee, Wis., have received a Davis Projects for Peace award. The award will support their work with Iraqi refugee children in Jordan this summer.

Corrected 7/8/08

Williams College Honors Long-Service Staff

July 1, 2008

At its annual 2007-08 Appreciation Day to honor staff, Williams College toasted those completing 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 years of service or were retiring. These staff are listed below, followed by their department and hometowns.

National Institutes of Health Award Thomas E. Smith $217,710 Research Grant

June 25, 2008

Thomas E. Smith, associate professor of chemistry at Williams College, has been awarded a $217,710 three-year grant by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institute of Health (NIH) for "Asymmetric Methods for the Synthesis of Pyran-Based Anticancer Natural Products."

Susan Dunn Elected Fellow of the Society of American Historians

June 25, 2008

Susan Dunn, professor of humanities at Williams College, was recently elected a fellow of the Society of American Historians. Membership in the Society is an honor accorded to only 250 historians at any time, based on the literary and scholarly caliber of their historical writing.

Students Elected to College Council

June 24, 2008

Williams College has announced the election of five students as officers of College Council. They are Jeremy Goldstein and Peter Nurnberg (co-presidents), Emily Deans (secretary), Rachel Levy (treasurer), and Curtis Flournoy (all-campus representative with focus on minority concerns.)

45 Williams College Seniors Inducted into Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society

June 24, 2008

Forty-five members of the Williams College Class of 2008 were awarded associate membership in Sigma Xi, the international scientific honor society, upon graduation in June.

Planetary Nebula Discovery and Formation of Spiral Galaxies Focus of Collaboration Funded by NSF

June 24, 2008

The National Science Foundation has awarded a three-year grant totaling $583,000 to Williams College Professor of Astronomy Karen Kwitter and two longtime colleagues, Bruce Balick of the University of Washington, and Richard Henry of the University of Oklahoma.

Summer Conferences Draw Participants and Patrons to Williamstown

June 23, 2008

School's out, and while students at Williams College seek adventures elsewhere, scores of summer conference participants flock to the Purple Valley to enjoy its hallmark blend of artistic richness, intellectual heritage, and top-notch sports facilities in the breathtaking Berkshires.

Natural Pop Artist Jessica Park's Book Offers a Window into her Dazzling Work

June 19, 2008

The dazzling artwork and remarkable life of Jessica Park are featured in the new book, "Exploring Nirvana: The Art of Jessica Park." Park, a nationally recognized artist with autism, is known for her minute attention to detail and vivid mastery of color.

Jones and Majumder Elected to Fellowship in the American Physical Society

June 18, 2008

Two members of the Williams College physics department, Kevin Jones and Tiku Majumder, were elected to Fellowship in the American Physical Society. They join Williams Professor William Wootters who was elected a Fellow in 1999.

Williams College Elects 38 Seniors to Phi Beta Kappa

June 1, 2008

Williams College has announced the election of 38 members of the Williams class of 2008 to Phi Beta Kappa, the national honor society.

Williams College Awards Eleven Master's in Art History Degrees

June 1, 2008

At its Commencement Exercises on Sunday, June 1, Williams awarded 11 students master's degrees on completion of the Graduate Program in the History of Art.

Williams College Awards 24 International Students Master's in Policy Economics

June 1, 2008

From the Armenia to Zambia, 24 international students came to study at the Center for Development Economics at Williams College this year. On Sunday, June 1, they were awarded masters of arts degrees in policy economics at Williams 219th Commencement.

Williams Celebrates 219th Commencement

June 1, 2008

Williams College President Morton Owen Schapiro conferred bachelor's degrees on 510 seniors at the college's 219th Commencement today. Eleven students in the Program in the History of Art and 24 fellows from the Center for Development Economics received master's degrees.

Sustainability at Williams College: From First-Years to Graduates

May 30, 2008

When Selim Zilkha graduated from Williams in 1946, the need for an office such as the Zilkha Center for Environmental Initiatives could hardly have been anticipated. But in September 2007, the College officially launched the Zilkha Center  "to work with students, faculty, and staff to incorporate principles of sustainability into the fabric of campus life - in learning, in our purchasing and operations, in capital projects, and in the daily routines of us all." www.williams.edu/resources/sustainability/  One specific objective of the Center will be to help the College achieve its ambitious goal of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 to 10% below 1990-91 levels--representing nearly 50% reduction from the 2006 benchmark.

Four Exemplary High School Teachers Win Williams College's Olmsted National Teaching Awards

May 28, 2008

Each year Williams College awards its national George Olmsted Jr., Class of 1924, Prize for Excellence in Secondary School Teaching to four high school teachers who have made a difference to graduating Williams seniors. This year's recipients are Duff S. Allen III, teacher of English at Kingston (N.Y.) High School; Chung Chan, teacher of social studies at John Dewey High School in Brooklyn, N.Y.; Stephen Mounkhall, teacher of English at Scarsdale (N.Y.) High School; and Michelle Santarelli, teacher of biology at Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Williams College Continues Its Studies of Pluto with NASA Grant

May 22, 2008

Williams College has received a grant from NASA's Planetary Sciences Division to continue its studies of Pluto and objects beyond it in the outer solar system.

Williams College Art Historian Michael J. Lewis Wins Guggenheim Fellowship

May 16, 2008

The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation has announced the award of its most prestigious fellowships to Michael J. Lewis, professor of art at Williams College.

Williams College Announces Its Commencement Speakers and Honorary Degree Candidates

May 1, 2008

Acclaimed artist and sculptor Richard Serra will be the principal speaker at Williams College's 219th Commencement on Sunday, June 1. Financial executive Robert Lipp will be the baccalaureate speaker on Saturday afternoon, May 31.  Former Secretary of State George Shultz will hold a public conversation on Saturday morning, May 31.

Mathematician Edward B. Burger Named Gaudino Scholar at Williams

April 23, 2008

Dean of the Faculty William G. Wagner has announced the selection of Edward B. Burger, professor of mathematics, as Gaudino Scholar at Williams College.  Burger will succeed Julie Cassiday, professor of Russian, who has served in this distinguished role since 2006.

Henry David Thoreau Foundation to Help Support Pilot Project on Environmental Leadership at Williams

April 22, 2008

The Henry David Thoreau Foundation has announced the award of a $24,800 grant for building environmental leadership skills among students. The proposal, "Using the Study of Green Building Practices at Williams College to Educate Environmental Leaders for Tomorrow," was presented by the Center for Environmental Studies (CES) and the Zilkha Center for Environmental Initiatives.

De Veaux Named 2008 Mosteller Statistician of the Year

March 31, 2008

Professor of Statistics Richard D. De Veaux has been named the 2008 Mosteller Statistician of the Year at an award ceremony on March 11, 2008.

Williams Professor Receives Grant to Investigate Effects of Risky Pensions

March 20, 2008

The Social Security Administration has awarded Williams College Assistant Professor of Economics David Love a grant of $40,000 in support of work by Love and Federal Reserve economist Paul Smith on the effects of risky pensions on household saving and labor supply decisions.

"Introduction to Topology," Newest of Colin Adams' Math Textbooks

March 20, 2008

"Introduction to Topology," co-authored by mathematics professor Colin Adams, was recently released by Pearson Prentice Hall.

Glenn Shuck's New Book Examines Current Cultural Pessimism

March 19, 2008

Williams College professor Glenn Shuck is the author of  "Escape into the Future: Cultural Pessimism and its Religious Dimension in Contemporary American Popular Culture," recently released by Baylor University Press. Written with John M. Stroup, the book explores the subtle pessimism that pervades the present-day American milieu, as expressed in popular culture and religious discourse.

Williams College Announces Eight New Administrative Appointments

March 19, 2008

Williams College has announced the following administrative appointments:

Named Professorship at Williams Will Honor Longtime College and Community Member

March 18, 2008

Williams College will celebrate the legacy of longtime college and community member J. Hodge Markgraf by naming a professorship in his honor. It will go to a faculty member in any field who displays the "strikingly balanced skills of scholarly excellence and high citizenship that Hodge Markgraf did for almost 60 years.

Bolton's "Robot Ghosts and Wired Dreams" Explores Evolution and Role of Japanese Science Fiction

March 14, 2008

"Robot Ghosts and Wired Dreams: Japanese Science Fiction from Origins to Anime" co-edited by Christopher Bolton of Williams College, Istvan Csisery-Ronay Jr. of DePauw University, and Takayuki Tatsumi of Keio University in Tokyo surveys Japanese science fiction, which developed as a genre since the end of the Second World War.

Daniel Aalberts Awarded NSF and NIH Research Grants

March 11, 2008

Daniel Aalberts, associate professor of physics at Williams College, was recently awarded grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Williams College Senior Shannon Chiu Named Gates Cambridge Scholar - Alumnus Shawn Powers '04 also Wins Scholarship

March 11, 2008

The Gates Cambridge Scholars Program has announced the award of scholarships for study at the University of Cambridge to Williams College student, Shannon Chiu '08, and alumnus Shawn Powers '04.  The scholarships will cover tuition, living expenses, and travel fees.

Fay Vincent Makes Major Gift to Williams for Financial Aid

March 5, 2008

Former Baseball Commissioner Francis T. (Fay) Vincent, Jr. has made a $7 million gift to Williams College to support undergraduate scholarships and to create a new graduate fellowship.

Williams Provides Data to U.S. Senate Finance Committee

March 3, 2008

Williams College has responded to the U.S. Senate Finance Committee with information it asked for on the college's endowment, fees, and financial aid.

Composer Kechley Snags Two Music Awards

February 27, 2008

David S. Kechley, professor of music at Williams College, has won an ASCAPlus Award from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), in addition to an Aaron Copland Award composer residency from Copland House.

Williams Announces 12 Promoted to Associate Professor with Tenure

February 12, 2008

Williams College has announced the promotion to associate professor and the award of tenure effective July 1, 2008 to 12 assistant professors.  They are: Dieter Bingemann, chemistry; Cecilia Chang, Asian Studies; C. Ondine Chavoya, art and Latina/o Studies; Theo Davis, English; Jennifer French, Romance languages; Stephen Freund, computer science; Manuel Morales, biology; Noah Sandstrom, psychology; Lucie Schmidt, economics; Stefanie Solum, art; Heather Stoll, geosciences; and Janneke van de Stadt, German and Russian.

Tolkien Scholars Hammond and Scull Win 2007 Mythopoeic Award

February 8, 2008

Wayne G. Hammond, assistant librarian in the Chapin Library, Williams College, and his wife, Christina Scull, have been awarded the 2007 Mythopoeic Scholarship Award in Inklings Studies, for their two-volume book "The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide."

From Da Vinci to Iraq to Metaphor: Annual Williams Faculty Public Lectures

February 4, 2008

Six Williams College faculty member's research will be showcased in the annual Public Lecture Series beginning Thursday, Feb. 7. Satyan Devadoss, associate professor of mathematics leads off the series with a lecture titled "Reclaiming Da Vinci:  Art, Visualization, Mathematics.

Williams College's '62 Center for Theatre and Dance Wins Architectural Kudos

January 16, 2008

The national American Institute of Architects (AIA) announced on January 4 that the Williams College '62 Center for Theatre and Dance and its architects, William Rawn Associates, Architect, Inc. of Boston have won a national AIA 2008 Honor Award for Interior Architecture.

2007 Year in Review: 10 Faculty Promoted to Full Professorships

January 16, 2008

In 2007, ten Williams College faculty were promoted to the rank of full professor.  They are Sarah R. Bolton, physics; Denise K. Buell, religion; Susan R. Loepp, mathematics; Karen R. Merrill, history; James L. Nolan, Jr., sociology; Amy D. Podmore, art; Cheryl Shanks, political science; W. Anthony Sheppard, music; Steven J. Swoap, biology; and Carmen T. Whalen, history. (corrected 1/21/08)

Fieldwork Makes the Big Apple a Special Place for Williams Undergraduates

January 10, 2008

Imagine Williams College in the Berkshires. Take away the cows. Swap Spring Street for Madison Avenue, the Purple Bubble for skyscrapers, and traditional coursework for experiential learning. That's Williams in New York, the study-away program that brings eight Williams students to the Big Apple each semester. The program is about opening doors to institutions, field research, and social realities students might never experience otherwise. It's about breaking down the barrier between college and the "real world."

The Story Prize Announces its Finalists

January 9, 2008

The short story book award features an international lineup, with one American, one Canadian, and one British finalist

Williams College Announces Rise in Early Decision Applications

December 21, 2007

Williams College has announced the acceptance of 223 Early Decision students to the Class of 2012. The expected class size is 538.

Williams College Announces Awardees of Six Prestigious Post-Graduate Fellowships for Study at Oxford and Cambridge Next Year

December 12, 2007

Six Williams College students have won prestigious post-graduate opportunities to continue their education in England next fall. The awardees are Zoia Alexanian of East Windsor, N.J.; William Bruce of Nashville, Tenn.; Marcela Di Blasi of San Antonio, Tex.; Xiang (Jerry) He of Fort Pierce, Fla.; Carrie Plitt of Wenham, Mass.; and Sarah (Sayd) Randle of Arlington, Va.

Two Williams College Undergraduates Win National Linguistics Award/Publication

December 11, 2007

Williams College senior Jeremy Doernberger of Woodbridge, Conn. and Jacob Cerny, a junior from North Miami Beach, Fla., were recognized for their outstanding sociolinguistic research at the New Ways of Analyzing Variation Conference this year in Philadelphia.

MASS MoCA Launches Regional Berkshire Permanence Campaign with $5.8 Million Goal

Williams College Kicks off Berkshire Permanence Campaign with $1.8 Million Slated for LeWitt Programs

December 10, 2007

MASS MoCA (Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art) Director Joseph C. Thompson announced today the launch of the Berkshire Permanence Campaign -- the regional phase of MASS MoCA's overall Permanence Campaign, an effort announced in April of this year with a goal of raising $36 million for MASS MoCA's endowment and program support.  The regional campaign kickoff was accompanied by the announcement of a gift of almost $2 million from Williams College for the previously announced Sol LeWitt project.

National Science Foundation Awards Williams College Funding in Support of a High-Speed Imaging Facility

December 7, 2007

The National Science Foundation has awarded Joan Edwards, the Washington Gladden 1859 Professor of Biology, and Dwight Whitaker, assistant professor of physics at Pomona College, a grant in the amount of $105,110. The grant is in support of a high-speed imaging facility at Williams College for the study of ultra fast biological movements and other applications in the sciences.

"The House the Rockefeller's Built" Reveals the Clan's Human Face

December 7, 2007

"The House the Rockefellers Built: A Tale of Money, Taste, and Power in Twentieth-Century America" by Robert F. Dalzell and Lee Baldwin Dalzell explores the social and cultural significance of Kykuit, the most famous of Rockefellers' houses in Historic Hudson Valley, New York.

Williams Launches Center at Mt. Greylock Regional School

December 4, 2007

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass., Dec. 4, 2007 -- Williams College announced today the launching Jan. 2 of a center at Mt. Greylock Regional School with the goal of maximizing the academic value the college can provide the school.

Williams College's Center for Environmental Studies Recycles a Professor

November 26, 2007

When Williams College invited Thomas C. Jorling to return as a Visiting Distinguished Professor of Environmental Studies ( www.williams.edu/CES/ ), the retired educator, government administrator and corporate executive knew he would find major changes in the classroom after 20 years away from college teaching.

Kimberly Elicker's Work Nationally Recognized for Genetic Research

November 12, 2007

Kimberly Elicker, member of the Williams College class of 2009, was awarded the prestigious undergraduate student poster presentation award by the American Association of Anatomists in recognition of her work on the "Characterization of the Zebrafish Small Heat Shock Protein Family."  She was awarded the distinction during the annual meeting of the Society of Experimental Biologists.  Her research with Lara D. Hutson, assistant professor of biology, was published in the November journal Gene.

Mutongi's "Worries of the Heart" Presents Captivating Perspective on Kenyan History

November 5, 2007

Kenda Mutongi, associate professor of history at Williams College, is the author of a new book titled "Worries of the Heart: Widows, Family, and Community in Kenya" (University of Chicago Press). Mutongi specializes in East Africa, urban history, and transport history and culture.

Williams Replaces All Financial Aid Loans with Grants

November 1, 2007

The following e-mail letter was sent today to all students, faculty, and staff from Williams College President Morton Owen Schapiro.

28 Williams Students Elected to Phi Beta Kappa

October 11, 2007

Williams College has announced the election of 28 members of the Williams Class of 2008 to Phi Beta Kappa, the national honor society. The Phi Beta Kappa Society was founded in 1776 as a nationwide organization honoring students of the highest academic achievement at the college level.

"Understanding German Idealism" by Will Dudley

October 11, 2007

Will Dudley, associate professor of philosophy, is the author of a new book titled "Understanding German Idealism."  Dudley specializes in 19th and 20th century European philosophy and is an expert on Kant and Hegel. 

Jim Shepard Named National Book Award Finalist for His Collection of Short Fiction "Like You'd Understand Anyway"

October 10, 2007

Jim Shepard was named a National Book Award 2007 finalist in fiction on October 10 for his collection of short stories "Like You'd Understand, Anyway." Announcement was made in the Philadelphia Inquirer and The New York Times.

"Was Japanese Defeat Inevitable?" Williams Historian Re-Examines the Pacific Theatre in WWII

October 2, 2007

In this provocative book "Japanese Military Strategy in the Pacific War: Was Defeat Inevitable?" (Rowman & Littlefield, 2007) historian James Wood challenges the received wisdom that Japan's defeat in the Pacific was historically inevitable.

New Chair at Williams College to Honor Distinguished Historian Frederick Rudolph '42

September 19, 2007

Williams College has announced the appointment of Robert Dalzell as the college's first Frederick Rudolph '42 - Class of 1965 Professorship of American Culture.

Williams College Awards Annual Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching and Writing

September 13, 2007

Since 1995, Williams College has awarded the Nelson Bushnell '20 Faculty Awards in recognition of excellence in teaching and writing.  This year, three received the award: Magnus Bernhardsson (history), Edward Burger (mathematics), and James Carlton (marine sciences).  Bernhardsson was noted for his "innovative use of technology in the classroom and record of publication over the last several years"; Burger for his "prolific publication record and stellar teaching in a year when he also won a number of other awards"; and Carlton for his "prolific scholarship and outstanding teaching in the Williams-Mystic Program."

Joy James Wins Prestigious Fletcher Fellowship

July 13, 2007

Joy A. James, the John B. and John T. McCoy Presidential Professor of Africana Studies and College Professor in Political Science at Williams College, has been awarded the prestigious Alphonse Fletcher, Sr., Fellowship. The fellowship includes a $50,000 stipend and honors those whose research, art, or writing seeks to reform and rectify race relations.

Stephen Freund Receives Grant from NSF for Work on Software Errors

June 26, 2007

Stephen Freund, assistant professor of computer science at Williams College, has been awarded a five-year, $400,000 CAREER grant from the National Science Foundation to research "Hybrid Atomicity Checking," a method of searching for bugs in software systems. The grant will enable Freund to develop the infrastructure necessary to carry out his research and support research collaborations with students.

Sheppard Wins Prestigious Fellowship; Also Chosen to Lecture at Metropolitan Opera

June 25, 2007

W. Anthony Sheppard, associate professor of music at Williams College, has been awarded an American Philosophical Society Sabbatical Fellowship for 2007-08 to complete his book, "Extreme Exoticism: Japan in the American Musical Imagination."

New Book on Thomas Jefferson by Williams Professor Susan Dunn

June 14, 2007

Basic Books recently announced publication of "Dominion of Memories: Jefferson, Madison, and the Decline of Virginia," by Susan Dunn.