We miss you in the Purple Valley, but this year has shown more powerfully than ever that Williams is so much more than a campus.
While we've had to take a pause from in-person gatherings, we've been celebrating the Bicentennial of the Society of Alumni through digital-first programs and initiatives. As we enter Commencement & Reunion season, we celebrate COMMUNITY, and the many ways we cultivate who we are to each other.
In this spirit, join us for a series of live virtual programs throughout the month of June (and beyond!). Browse the archives. Read and share your EPH story. We look forward to when we can welcome you back to Williamstown, but in the meantime, we continue to connect and build community, no matter the distance.
Live Programs
Tuesday, June 8, 2021
8:00 pm ET
Leading in Time of Change
Among the defining realities of the past year were a global pandemic, a racial reckoning and a democracy in question. What do three Williams College alumni who are seasoned executives of complex organizations have to say about leading through times of national and global upheaval? How do the defining moments of our time influence their approach to evolving and transforming their respective organizations? What discoveries have they made about themselves and their organizations while leading through change?
Adena Testa Friedman ‘91, President & CEO Nasdaq
Jonathan Kraft ‘86, President of the Kraft Group
Clarence Otis ‘77, Retired CEO of Darden Restaurants and Current Board of Director for Verizon Communications, VF Corporation, Travelers, MSF Funds, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Boys and Girls Clubs of America
Thursday, June 10, 2021
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm ET
A Conversation with Williams President Maud S. Mandel
Society of Alumni President Kate Boyle Ramsdell in conversation with President Mandel
9:00 pm - 10:00 pm ET
Piano Bar Sing-a-long with Dan Krass '05
Hop on over to Facebook and enjoy an hour of live music. Requests welcome! Singing of "The Mountains" at 9:30pm EDT.
Friday, June 11, 2021
12:00 pm ET
Bicentennial Meeting of the Society of Alumni
199th Annual Meeting of the Society of Alumni with Society of Alumni President Kate Boyle Ramsdell ’97.
Tuesday, June 15, 2021
8:00 am - 9:00 am ET
Global Gatheround Networking Event
Gather with Ephs around the globe on Tuesday, June 15 at 8:00 a.m. ET. We will meet in the Gatheround platform for casual one-on-one networking sessions, giving you the opportunity to meet many Ephs (alums, parents and families) from around the world.
You will receive the link to Gatheround in your week-of reminder email. For now, please register and save the date!
Questions? Contact [email protected]
Thursday, June 17, 2021
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm ET
Dwelling of the Gallant
DWELLING OF THE GALLANT is a celebration of all Women of Williams; this year’s program features Meg Lowman ’76, Adrena Ifill ’91, Jiayang Fan ’06, and Jessica Bernheim ’16.
The act of dwelling – taking up space and creating space for others – is the cornerstone of the college experience. For the women who came to Williams in 1971, dwelling was an act of gallantry, an act of intellectual curiosity and an act of love. Their dwelling was a promise to shape and be shaped by this institution. The Williams of today is indeed a Dwelling of the Gallant, and this is in no small part due to the women who have and continue to contribute to the college in far too many ways to count.
September 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of the matriculation of the first fully coed class of Williams College. We take this time to acknowledge the women of the Class of ’76 as the second fully coed class; the women who came before them as transfer students and partners; the women who came after them; and the faculty, staff, and community members who supported them. This is also a time to recognize and celebrate the over 13,000 Williams alumnae who have and continue to have an impact on Williams and the world.
Wednesday, June 23, 2021
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm ET
Williams @ Work Webinar - Travel Outlook for a Post-Pandemic World
After more than a year of lockdowns, stay-at-home orders and cancelled trips (& reunions!), it’s clear that consumers are eager to begin traveling again once vaccines are widely distributed. Despite pent-up demand among business and leisure travelers alike, habits and behaviors acquired during Covid times - not to mention the psychological impact of the past year - will certainly impact the way people move about the world in the pandemic’s wake. Three alumni with deep expertise in various facets of the industry will help us unpack the trends that are already emerging and their short- and long-term impact on travel and tourism.
Learn more about the panelists below:
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Jennifer Washburne ’86 is the director of business development & client management at Generali Global Assistance, which includes travel insurance and assistance among its care services.
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Jeninne Lee-St. John ’98 is the editor-in-chief of Travel + Leisure Southeast Asia. From her base in Bangkok, she oversees the magazine’s coverage of destinations, hotels, food and drink, culture and other travel news across Asia-Pacific.
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Mark Rothman ’05 is the CEO of Magma Global, a luxury and corporate travel concierge with offices in New York and Los Angeles.
Class Connections
′16
Class Officers: Jochebed Bogunjoko, Sophie Chatas, Libby Divr, Ryan Farley, Ellen Finch & Meghana Vunnamadala
′11
Class Officers: Timothy Lengel,Emily Spine, Robert Camp & Joseph Kiernan
′06
Class Officers: Whitney Johnson, April Champion & Jose Marrero
′01
Class Officers: Victoria Weir, Anne Hereford, Liana Thompson Knight & Kenneth Ojukwu
′96
25th Reunion Chairs: Mitch Howell & Shawei Wang
Class of '96 Entry Night: Friday, June 11, 8pm EDT
**Joined by special guests '94 JAs!**
We'll have some time together as a big group but the highlight will be breaking into small groups by entry with our JAs! And a group for other students including transfer students too! BYOS (Bring Your Own Snacks - traditional beverages ok!)
Class of '96 Game Night : Saturday, June 12, 8pm EDT
A fun night to reconnect and test your knowledge of Williams and your '96 classmates. It's sure to be interesting!
′91
Class Officers: Traci Wolfe, Ellen Drought, Tim Hildreth, Christine Choi, Pete McEntegart, Michelle Sanders & Aaric Eisenstein
′86
Class Officers: Kevin McGonigle, Jeffrey E. Sher, Sarah Hart Petersen & Martin Collins
′81
Class Officers: Valerie Nierenberg, Erika Jorgensen, Alexis Belash & Susan Edelman
′76
Class Officers: Deborah Heineman, Jeanne Gerulskis, Vincent McLoughlin & Thomas Belden
′71
50th Reunion Chair: Rob Farnham
Class of 1971 Reunion Launch (Class Meeting): Friday, June 11 @ 5-7 pm
INCLUDING
Welcome from President Mandel
News from class leaders, classmates overseas & others
Review of Class Survey
Preview of upcoming documentary featuring women graduates & exchange students
Virtual Cocktail Hour by house affiliation
′66
Class Officers: Budge Upton, Jonathan Linen, Robert Rubin, Palmer Bessey, John Gould & Charles J. Randolph
1966 ReZOOMin: Friday, June 18 @ 4pm ET
′61
Class Officers: Tim Weinland & Bob Sleeper
1961 ReZOOMin: Thursday, June 3 @ 2pm ET
′56
Class Officers: Vernon Squires, Robert Schumacher, William Kerr & Thomas Lincoln
1956 ReZOOMin: Friday, June 4 @ 3pm ET
′51
Class Officers: Don Gregg & Bradford Purcell
