Education

Alhambra Consulting Group

Student Leaders: Nick Langel (ntl1) & Maddy Sullivan (mjs12)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Paula Consolini

Alhambra Consulting Group is Williams College’s pro bono consulting group. Alhambra aims to foster regional economic development in Berkshire County and the surrounding region by providing advisory services to local businesses, non-profits, and public sector groups operating in geographic proximity to the County. Alhambra’s primary services include conducting academic and business research, collecting and analyzing data, and developing strategies and proposals based on research insights to support our clients’ objectives. Alhambra’s paramount mission is to leverage the resources of Williams College to engage with the regional issues of Berkshire County and foster long-term growth and change for our clients and our community.

Association for Women in Mathematics

This group is inactive as of the 2021-22 academic year.

Student Leaders: Amina Diop ([email protected])
Faculty/Staff Adviser: Eva Goedhart

We are the Williams College student chapter of the Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM).  The chapter was established in 2014 in response to the lack of existing structures or programming for women in math and the discrimination that went unnoticed both inside classrooms and out.  We work on two levels: (1) we aim to provide a social space for members of underrepresented minorities in STEM who have felt uncomfortable in general math settings and (2) we work towards long-term structural changes that will make the Williams Math Department more inclusive.

AWM website

Berkshire Doula Project

Student Leaders: Gates Tenerowicz (glt1) & Maddie Moore (mtm4)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Laini Sporbert

Berkshire Doula Project is a student collective that advocates for reproductive rights on campus. We spread reproductive health awareness through our campus-wide events: Menstruation and Masturbation Celebration, as well as holding an IUD/abortion doula training each semester.

Berkshire Educational Resources K12 (BERK12)

The mission of the Berkshire County Education Task Force (BCETF) has evolved in response to ongoing changes in education. In doing so, the BCETF has renamed itself to better reflect its new mission. We are now Berkshire Educational Resources K12 (BERK12). Our mission is to support Berkshire County school districts and educators by collaboratively offering solutions to short and long-term issues, in order to promote high quality public education, which all children deserve, regardless of background or circumstance.

Berkshire Regional Planning Commission
1 Fenn Street Suite 201
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Phone: 413-442-1521
[email protected]
www.berk12.org

Big Brothers and Big Sisters

This group is currently inactive. Please see the Williams Elementary Outreach Big Sibs at WES program for current information.

A part of the Big Brothers, Big Sisters program, this Williamstown Elementary program pairs children in grades kindergarten through six with a Big Brother or Big Sister from Williams to provide the younger students with unique, self-esteem building, one-to-one relationships.  Typically, children get together with their Big Sibs once a week for several hours and are engaged in various activities of mutual interest.  On occasion, larger group functions (e.g., movies or bowling) may be arranged by the program’s student coordinator at Williams.

Black STEM Association

Student Leaders: Ellie Tounkara (ert4) & Bishoy (Shoy) Yacoub (by1)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Pamela Harris

The Black STEM Student Association (BSTEM) aims to create a safe and supportive space in which Black students are encouraged to continue their studies in STEM+ fields, and can freely speak of their experiences in these fields. This support system for underserved groups in STEM is essential to helping support these students interested in the sciences and combat the effects of the discrimination that they may experience while navigating STEM courses during their time at Williams College.

Brayton Elementary After School Tutoring

This group is currently inactive.

Student Leaders: Emma Paquette ([email protected])
Faculty/Staff Adviser: Molly Polk

The objective of Brayton Afterschool Tutoring Program is to provide assistance to the afterschool programming in the North Adams schools, bringing student energy into disadvantaged classrooms. Tutors work with students one-on-one or in small groups to improve their reading skills. Tutors also provide program support for the teachers’ planned activities, such as arts and crafts, board games, dance, or sports.

 

Circle of Women

Student Leaders: Jaeeun Lee (jl35) & Jennifer Sarmiento (jrs14)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Kris Hoey

Circle of Women (CoW) is a national nonprofit organization–run completely by students–that provides the necessary resources to girls around the world who are pursuing an education. As such, our focus is primarily abroad. We partner up with local groups to implement construction projects and fundraise to make such projects possible.

Website

CLiA Community Outreach Summer Fellowship

This paid summer program trains a small team of Williams students to help build better community service and experiential learning opportunities at Williams.  The selected rising Sophomores and Juniors are initially oriented to the Berkshires and trained in key skill areas before spending the balance of their time immersed and leading others in community engagement work.  This 8-week, 35-hour/week position reports to the CLiA Director.

Additional Information & Application:

learning-in-action.williams.edu/opportunities/community-outreach-summer-fellowship

 

Concussed Cows

This group is currently inactive.

Student Leaders: Ellyn Pier
Faculty/Staff Adviser: Noah Sandstrom
Meeting Time/Place: Paresky

To provide support for students recovering from concussions and to help the college implement the best possible practices in concussion management. Our group will be a way for those struggling with concussions to connect with other students so that they don’t have to go through the difficult process alone. We will also work to educate the community about concussions to reduce stereotypes and misconceptions.

Disabled Student Union

Student Leaders: Rebecca Dodgson (rmd4) & Jo Hovey (jkh3)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Ash Bell

The purpose of Disabled Student Union is to support disabled people, especially disabled Williams students, in any way insufficiently provided by the Office of Accessible Education or any other college resources. It provides a place for disabled community, accessible outreach, and self-advocacy.

Divest Williams

This group is currently inactive.

Student Leaders: Isabelle Furman ([email protected])
Faculty/Staff Adviser: Shanti Singham
Meeting Time/Place: Wednesdays 9 PM in Zilkha Center

Divest Williams seeks to build and foster a movement around divestment of the college’s endowment from fossil fuels; in this work, we aim also to undermine the entire extractive economy. Through this work, we strive to educate the community and challenge people to think more deeply about both their own and Williams’s place in social movements. We hope to develop a deeper understanding of systems of power and oppression and the points at which these systems are vulnerable. We understand the fight for climate justice to be inextricably linked to the fight for racial justice, economic justice, LGBTQIA justice; to the fight to end colonialism and imperialism and dismantle the patriarchy; to end ableism, transphobia, heterosexism, and all other forms of oppression. Therefore Divest Williams stands with all other groups fighting for social justice and climate justice on campus and beyond.

Website

Education Outreach

For 20+ years, Williams has partnered with our local educators to create hands-on programming that serve the needs of the children and their families in a host of Berkshire County schools in the areas of science, writing, mentoring, homework help and more. Currently, more than 350 students participate and serve in K-12 schools in paid and volunteer positions in Williamstown, Lanesborough, North Adams and Pittsfield. We welcome your involvement and ideas, and look forward to hearing from you! Please visit the Education Outreach section of our website for more information.

EOS (Educational Opportunities for Success) Mentoring

This student-run program provides mentoring support for under-resourced high school students in the Pittsfield Public School District’s alternative learning facility. The mission of the program, established in 2017, is to build relationships with high school students whose voices are often ignored and whose feelings are frequently invalidated. Mentors strive to serve as consistent, positive role models who listen and show interest in these teenagers. In addition to mentoring, EOS promotes and conducts trauma-informed trainings with the goal of equipping local educators, mentors, resource officers, and student workers with the knowledge and strategies to more effectively serve and support students who have been affected by trauma. To apply or for more information, contact Omar Ahmad ’23 ([email protected]) or Tiffany Park ’23 ([email protected]).

fEMPOWER

This group is currently inactive.

Student Leaders: Elizabeth Webber
Faculty/Staff Adviser: Sarah Raymond
Meeting Time/Place: Williamstown Elementary School

We hope to teach young girls about nutrition, teamwork and the negative and unrealistic expectations of women’s bodies in the media. We found a lot of success doing this last year, and I hope to continue the growth of this program. Our goal is to continue to inform a younger generation of girls through hands-on lessons and team-centered training. This program will end with a 5K road race that all of the girls will have trained for over the course of ~6 weeks. We want to show young girls that with some hard work and focus, they are all capable of reaching their goals.

Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts

Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts (GSCWM) impacts over 12,000 girls and supports over 5,000 adult members in Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Worcester and a portion of Middlesex counties. In Girl Scouts, we believe every girl can become a leader. Membership in Girl Scouts is open to girls in grades K-12; women and men over 18 can join as adult members. While most girls join for fun and friendship, they also find out about building character and self-esteem and serving their communities—core qualities of Girl Scouting.

Additional Information & Current Opportunities:

learning-in-action.williams.edu/opportunities/girl-scouts-of-central-and-western-massachusetts

Great Ideas Committee

This group is currently inactive.

Student Leaders: Luke Baumann ([email protected])
Meeting Time/Place: College Council Suite, time according to members’ schedule

The Great Ideas Committee solicits ideas from the community to improve student life at Williams. These ideas can be conveniences (such as installing water fountains or buying chargers for the library), policy changes, improved communication systems, or anything else, though the scope of the projects is generally smaller than the larger policy questions debated by College Council or faculty committees. We draw from the CC Projects fund.

Website

Harrison Morgan Brown Pre-Health Society

This group is currently inactive.

Student Leaders: Donglin Zhang
Faculty/Staff Adviser: Barbara Fuller
Meeting Time/Place: Tuesday evenings, Paresky

1. Organizes activities, trips, and events that will help Williams students to cultivate their passion for medicine. 2. Consolidates sources of information about the field of health care, including speakers and health care professionals, to help Williams students make well-informed decisions about preparing and pursuing a career in medicine. 3. Serves as a liaison between the Health Professions Advisor and the various pre-health students of Williams College.

Kinetic

This group is currently inactive.

Student Leaders: Zachary Brand
Faculty/Staff Adviser: Jessica Bernheim

The purpose of Kinetic is to cultivate a social innovation incubator committed to designing and implementing creative, non-political, sustainable, scalable solutions to pressing social issues in the Berkshire region. Kinetic teams, which are comprised of 4-8 Kinetic members, work on a particular issue in three distinct phases: research, design, and implementation. Kinetic members work to understand the entire landscape of an issue and to discover gaps where they can intervene and create systemic change.

Kinetic Website

Masculinity, Accountability, Sexual Assault, and Consent

Student Leaders: Max Mallett (mmm17) & Sam Bishop (sjb4)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Allison Jasso

MASC (Masculinity, Accountability, Sexual Assault, and Consent) is dedicated to working against, and ultimately ending, rape and sexual assault on campus through promoting enthusiastic consent. To work towards this goal we hold frequent discussion meetings and social events to educate ourselves and others about masculinity, accountability, sexual assault, and consent. We also lead workshops geared towards ending cultures of toxic masculinity in men’s spaces.

Math Riddles

Many students find math dry in high school and junior high school. The purpose of the webpage is to help students and teachers see that math can be fun, interesting and applicable.

In addition to the riddles, there is a student/teacher corner where detailed explanations are given, not just of how to solve the problem, but how to try to attack it. In particular, often promising approaches that don’t pan out are discussed. The purpose is to help students and teachers learn how to approach new problems.

Additional Information & Current Opportunities:

learning-in-action.williams.edu/opportunities/math-riddles

Matriculate

Student Leaders: Sarah Hartman (sah4) & Jaeeun Lee (jl35)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Courtney Oben

College students are paired with low-income, high-achieving high school students to mentor them through the college process. We train talented Williams College students to connect virtually with high-achieving, low-income high school students, providing the information, guidance, and support that these high school students need to navigate the college process.

 

Mohawk Forest Mentoring Program

This group is currently inactive.

Student Leaders: Julia Yarak ’18 ([email protected])

Faculty/Staff Adviser: Paula Consolini

Meeting Time/Place: Monday-Friday 3-5 PM

The Mohawk Forest program takes Williams students most weekday afternoons (3-5pm) to Mohawk Forest, an affordable housing community in North Adams. At the Mohawk Forest Community Center, we help children on their homework, play games, make crafts, and serve as mentors for the kids. It is a great opportunity to get out of the “purple bubble” and interact with children and teens in the community who really benefit from having positive role models in their lives.  For more information, contact the student leaders or the Center for Learning in Action at [email protected].

Moo-Mami

This group is currently inactive.

Student Leaders: Carson Kurtz ([email protected])
Faculty/Staff Adviser: Caroline Bruno
Meeting Time/Place: Friday evening, Zilkha Center kitchen

The two overarching goals of the organization are to teach members of the community useful cooking techniques and immerse them in the process of raising money for charity. We hope that through our organization participants will learn and become comfortable with a variety of cooking techniques, thereby acquiring a valuable life skill that students ordinarily are not exposed to in the academic classroom. Through the culinary lessons and time allotted to practice, we hope to build and foster a sense of community around food. Another element of the club consists of familiarizing and raising awareness about various social and medical issues around the world.

Facebook Page

Muslim Student Union

Student Leaders: Maymouna Bah (mb33) & Palvasha Khan (pwk2)
Faculty/Staff Adviser: Bilal Ansari

Muslim Students Union seeks not only to help campus Muslims with their spiritual needs, but also to promote an open community where both Muslims and non-Muslims can come together to engage with Islam. Muslim Students Union hopes to serve its members by providing opportunities for intellectual exploration, Islamic learning, and spiritual growth as well as social programming. Whenever possible and prudent, we plan to extend our services to the surrounding communities in the Berkshires and Albany area, whether it be to invite Muslim and non-Muslim community members to our events or through community service. Lastly, Muslim Students Union strives to promote understanding between Muslims and other faith groups at Williams College, in order to create a more educated and aware student body.

OURSTEM+

Student Leaders: Curtis Liu (csl1) & Amy Martinez (agm4)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Pamela Harris

Goals:

  • To further the work of, to improve the effectiveness of, and to enhance the public understanding of and appreciation for underrepresented minorities in STEM+
  • To promote student recruitment and retention of underrepresented minorities in STEM+ at Williams College
  • To provide a forum for students from different majors in STEM+ to come together for academic, community service, and social activities at Williams College\
  • To create an inclusive environment for underrepresented minorities in STEM+

Peer Health

Student Leaders: Jack Mouch (jem13) & Sama Kreidi (stk2)
Faculty/Staff Adviser: Laini Sporbert

Peer Health provides students at Williams with health supplies and hosts health-related events on campus. Peer Health provides education and resources that promote Williams students’ everyday health, with a vision to work toward a Williams student body of well-balanced individuals.

Period. at Williams College

Student Leaders: Junhee Lee (jl33) & Sabiha Imran (si3)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Cynthia Holland

Period. at Williams College is a club dedicated to working towards menstrual equity by reducing period poverty and stigma in the community through service, education, and advocacy. We plan to hold various types of events to raise awareness regarding period poverty and increase accessibility to period products both on campus and in underserved public spaces in the community. We also plan to host educational events and workshops in the community to reduce period stigma.

Pownal Pen Pals

This group is inactive as of the 2022-23 academic year.

Student Leaders: Amari Yirgu (ayy1)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Jennifer Swoap

We, the members of Pownal Pen Pals, established to exchange letters with students of Pownal Elementary School and thereby contribute to their education and forge connections with the broader community.

QuestBridge Scholars Network

This group is currently inactive. For information for QuestBridge-affiliated students, please visit the Williams Admissions website.

Student Leaders: Onyeka Obi
Faculty/Staff Adviser: April Ruiz
Meeting Time/Place: Hollander 101

The primary purpose of the Williams QuestBridge Scholars Network is to provide a coherent support system for entering and continuing QuestBridge-affiliated Scholars at Williams College. However, while the Williams QSN functions as a place of support for low-income and first-generation students, many of its services benefit students from all backgrounds; all students are welcome to participate in the QSN’s events. Through the Williams QSN, students have an opportunity to meet others with similar life experiences through frequent social events and gatherings. With an emphasis on service, community building, and student mentorship, the QSN strives to continue our greater organization’s goal of seeing disadvantaged students thrive and give back.

Racial Justice K-12 Curriculum Development Initiative

This community engagement program, initially run online due to the COVID pandemic during 2020-2021 and in a hybrid format during Summer 2021 and beyond, is designed to serve Williams students’ civic aspirations by providing the opportunity to engage in racial justice work in partnership with local K-12 schools and Berkshire County-based advocacy organizations.  

Additional Information & Resources:

https://learning-in-action.williams.edu/opportunities/racial-justice-community-outreach/

Rules Change Project

The Rules Change Project is an initiative to support action ideas for capitalism and the common good.  America is not working for all of us. The Rules Change Project is an open coalition to spotlight, amplify and educate the public about existing efforts to foster economic “rules change.” It is an informal, non-partisan collaboration of individuals and independent groups seeking to help launch a national conversation about how we govern, regulate, manage and interact with corporations, about their relationship with government, and with their stakeholders — employees, customers, communities, the environment — in addition to stockholders.

Additional Information & Current Opportunities:

learning-in-action.williams.edu/opportunities/rules-change-project

Senior Technology Tutoring

Student Leaders: Monika Bhaskar (mab13) & Abigail Vieira (aev3)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Ash Bell

Senior Technology Tutoring is an intergenerational program that brings seniors and college students together, all the while helping bridge the technology gap that can exist between generations. Each week after classes, a group of students will spend about an hour with seniors. Each student tutor will work one-on-one with a senior. In this hour, students will assist seniors with navigating the various features of their own technology devices such as helping them simply set up their Home Screen or applying for a job at the local grocery store. This program will not only allow seniors to gain confidence with their technology, but also create an intergenerational community between students and seniors.

Sentinels Summer Public Policy Research Fellowship

This U.S. public policy research program supports student research projects focused on contemporary issues in U.S. economic, social, and/or environmental policy, including but not limited to community and regional development, regulation, inequality, and/or processes and powers of the American Government at any level.  Sentinels Fellows are awarded research funding based primarily upon their written project proposal.

Additional Information & Application:

https://learning-in-action.williams.edu/opportunities/sentinels-summer-research-fellowship/

Sexual Wellness Advocacy Network (SWAN)

This group is currently inactive.

Student Leaders: Jennifer Lederer ([email protected])
Faculty/Staff Adviser: Donna Denelli-Hess

SWAN works to introduce topics of consent and healthy relationships to local middle school and high school students through workshops. We also create relationships with administrators and teachers to create consent-promoting initiatives. It is the purpose of SWAN to work closely with students, teachers, and administration to figure out the best ways in which to bring our information and messages to local campuses. With every place we go to, we hope to create a consent-promoting, survivor-supporting campus. In addition, SWAN works to improve Williams students’ ability to understand and thus teach consent to local students.

Facebook

SWAG

 

 

 

SWAN Facebook Page

Sisterhood

Student Leaders: Shiara Pyrrhus (sp23) & Cheyenne Willis (ccw5)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Toya Camacho

The purpose of Sisterhood is to empower its members by instilling a sense of camaraderie amongst Black women and by supporting Black women as they navigate the world as a double minority. A primary goal of the organization is to instill a sense of unity and community amongst Black women and to equip Black women with professional development tools. Sisterhood aims to provide Black women with a solid platform to discuss and address issues that are often both undetected and overlooked. Sisterhood embodies leading with love.

Storytime

Student Leaders: Greta Gruber (geg2) & Sofia Stefani (sas9)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Bilal Ansari

Storytime hosts weekly storytelling events on campus meant to bring students, faculty, and staff together to share experiences, enriching our community.

Students for Education Reform

This group is currently inactive.

Student Leader: Cooper Bramble
Faculty/Staff Adviser: Shawna Patterson-Stephens
Meeting Time/Place: Wednesday at 6 PM, Paresky 220

Student’s for Education Reform is an organization that is committed to improving the state of education in the United States. We advocate at the state, local, and national levels, pushing for positive legislative change and raising awareness for important educational issues. At the college, we work to increase understanding and foster discussion about education related issues by holding events, bringing in speakers, conducting school/school board visits and holding dinner meetings.

Students for Israeli-Palestinian Dialogue

Student Leaders: Sydney Pope (sgp2) & Gaby Ivanova (ggi1)
Faculty/Staff Advisors: Seth Wax & Bilal Ansari

SIPD aims to bring students together — no matter their background, ideological leanings, or perspectives — and provide opportunities and forums to share and learn more about the Israeli Palestinian conflict and occupation. We feel that there is a gap in campus conversations, so our goal is to create more open dialogue, education, and compassion within the community about the reality in Palestine and Israel. We hope to achieve this by inviting speakers from the ground and around the world, ranging from activists, artists, filmmakers, scholars, to individuals with powerful stories to share. Part of our mission is to increase education and awareness and to create spaces to practice critical skills, so a big part of our programming is hosting workshops around Palestinian and Israeli history as well as dialogue and active listening skills.

SIPD aims to combine compassion with knowledge and learning about a topic that is often simplified due to its historical and emotional complexities. We aim to extend interdisciplinary learning beyond the classroom and apply it to a global setting, emphasizing the diversity in background, education, and opinion of those on campus and in the world.

Students for Justice in Palestine

This group is inactive as of the 2022-23 academic year.

Student Leaders: Gina Al-Karablieh (gza1) & Lour Yasin (liy1)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Aseel Abulhab

This is an organization that activates for Palestinian rights and strives to spread awareness about the history of Palestine with regards to the Israeli occupation.

The Inside-Out Course and Positive Pathways Partnership (P3)

The Inside Out Course and Positive Pathways Partnership are programs run with the Berkshire County Jail and House of Correction in nearby Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

The Inside Out Course follows the Inside Out Program model developed at Temple University.  In this model, the course consists of an equal number of college students and inmates learning alongside one another in a seminar taught by a college instructor at the correctional institution. A major goal of the course is to facilitate dialogue across difference,  potentially developing transformative learning experiences for participants.  The program at Williams, begun in 2013 with a course taught by Professor Christian Thorne, was initiated by Gaudino Scholar Magnus Bernhardsson as part of the “Danger Initiative.”  It continues now under the guidance of a faculty advisory team (Professors Keith McPartland, Christian Thorne, Jim Nolan, and Kris Kirby) with administration and financial support from the Center for Learning in Action. For more information on the course, contact CLiA Director Dr. Paula Consolini ([email protected]).

The Positive Pathways Partnership (P3) with the Berkshire County Sheriff’s Office, begun in 2015, supports educational access for those formerly or currently incarcerated in the Berkshire County House of Correction (BCHOC). In fall 2016, when several Williams students attended an orientation and tour of the facility in Pittsfield, some were taken aback by the new environment they had been invited to tutor in. Still, they were inspired to serve by a recognition of the importance of P3’s mission.

From December 2016 to April 2017, Omar Kawam ’20, Diana Sanchez ’17, and Timothy Suh ’18, drove weekly to the 2nd St. Reentry Office in Pittsfield where they taught a recently released individual Writing, Reading, and Math to pass his HiSET exam. Under the supervision of BCHoC staff, tutoring continued through the summer of 2017 in the Pittsfield correctional facility as two inmates sought to work towards their diplomas.

In addition to the tutoring, a small group of Williams students led by Ted McNally ’20, launched a weekly book discussion group at the BCHoC in the Spring of 2017. Within a few years, inmate participation has grown to as many as 16. Williams students facilitate the discussion of books and short stories chosen by the group as a whole. Maus, Legends of the Fall, and Love and War in California have been among the books read and discussed together.

The tutoring and book discussion group initiatives have grown substantially with the addition of another early evening (5:30-7pm) of tutoring to the Thursday slot and more students volunteering to help facilitate the Friday evening book discussions. After additional recruitment to better serve the tutoring needs both in and outside the jail, the Williams’ Director of Quantitative Skills Programs and Peer Support helped the tutors develop tutoring syllabi and a communication system that helps them work more effectively individually and as a team.

When COVID struck, P3 students found a way to continue helping with HISET preparation.  Once they heard from the BCHOC education staff about the most challenging content areas of test preparation, they created a series of  short tutorial videos to aid those studying for the test. The videos were well received and continue to be used now that the program has returned in person. The videos have since been shared with the Northern Berkshire Adult Basic Education  Program.

Even as tutoring and mentoring in this setting may be out of some people’s comfort zone, Williams students and inmates alike are grateful for the rewarding shared learning experiences. Along with the regularly taught Inside-Out Williams course, P3 strives to strengthen relations between the two institutions and offer a larger number of individuals hope in the possibility of new beginnings.

For more information, please contact Ash Bell ([email protected]).

The Society of the Griffins

Student Leaders:Uyi Osayimwen (ueo1) & Josh Kombet (jk1)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Clinton Williams

The Griffins is a student led affinity organization that is dedicated to preparing minority men for the professional environment post-Williams, as well promoting and establishing responsibility in the minority community on and around campus.

thinkFOOD

This group is currently inactive.

Student Leaders: Nicholas Gardner ([email protected])
Faculty/Staff Adviser: Mike Evans
Meeting Time/Place: Tuesdays 8 PM in Zilkha Center

At Williams, members of thinkFOOD work in student groups and dining committees to make the food Williams eats more environmentally and socially sustainable. We’ve worked with our primary food purveyors and worked to write Williams Dining’s sustainable and responsible purchasing expectations for those purveyors. We’ve also participated in local farm visits with the Zilkha Center and hosted community meals.

Timberlawn Elementary School

The mission of Timberlawn Elementary School is to teach and learn with purpose, passion, and perseverance. We will achieve our mission by working together to ensure that every Timberlawn Bulldog excels academically, socially and emotionally.  Students recite the Timberlawn Mission Statement at the beginning of each school day.

Timberlawn Elementary School is one of 38 elementary schools in the Jackson Public School District. It serves students in grades pre-K-5. Timberlawn is located in a low-income community. It is a Title 1 school; 97% of students live below the poverty line.  For more information on the school, please visit timberlawn.jpsms.org.

Additional Information & Current Opportunities:

learning-in-action.williams.edu/opportunities/timberlawn-elementary-school

Williams College Children’s Center

We join with families in a community where children’s ideas and the wonder of childhood inspire our common learning. We offer safe, nurturing care that supports play, learning, and the work of children while recognizing the strengths, diversity, and uniqueness of all who learn and teach here. Our teachers foster multiple ways of learning and development of skills that will support our children in the future, whether in school or in the world beyond.

Additional Information & Current Opportunities:

learning-in-action.williams.edu/opportunities/williams-college-childrens-center

Williams College Democrats

Student Leader: Carlos Hernandez Tavares (ceh9) & Ollie Saleh (oas1)
Faculty/Staff Adviser: James Mahon

Our primary goal in College Dems is to mobilize Williams students to help elect Democrats and liberals at the local, state, and national level. We will also partner with local organizations to help further liberal goals through community volunteering, and will work with other college groups and the college itself to better the Williams community through advocacy. Finally, we hope to provide Williams students with the connections and experience needed to pursue a fulfilling future in public service, community organizing, non-profit work, and other enterprises revolving around government, community, and advocacy.

Williams College Oral Health Society

Student Leaders: Yuchen (Amy) Wang (ynw1) & Sara Lopez-Quintana (sll4)
Faculty/Staff Adviser: Rebecca Counter

Are you interested in dentistry? The Oral Health Society supports the pre-dental students at Williams College and promotes oral health awareness on and off campus. On an educational front, we engage with local service programs in Williamstown and the surrounding areas of Berkshire County to teach the youth about the importance of proper oral hygiene. On campus, we serve as an outlet for any student who is interested in dentistry by providing advice, guidance, and resources when it comes to educational and professional development. We sponsor dental school visits, aid with pre-health/research summer program applications, and connect our members with alumni as well as fellow pre-dental students from other institutions.

Williams Insight

Student Leaders: Stephen Kletscher ([email protected])
Faculty/Staff Adviser: David Zimmerman

We are the Williams College financial publication club. We hold weekly meetings where we discuss the latest evolutions of the markets and plan our articles. Our articles comprise analysis of publicly-traded companies, the state of the markets, etc.

Williams Law Society

Student Leaders: Tim Kelly (tjk6) & Aishvarya Bedi (ab33)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Anthony Pernell-McGee

The Law Society brings together Williams students who have a common interest in law along with alumni, faculty, and professionals in fields relating to law through programs and activities dealing with or related to the field of law. It also promotes understanding of the legal profession, the rule of law, and the legal process while also identifying and discussing the bias and contemporary problems in our legal and justice system.

Williams Outing Club

Student Leaders: Isabel Albores (isa2) & Mila Nazarali (msn2)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Scott Lewis

Williams Outing Club (WOC), through the efforts of its volunteer student leadership and Faculty Director stimulates participation in and appreciation for outdoor activities. In so doing, WOC will further an ideal of college education, develop personal initiative and leadership, promote skills in outdoor recreation, educate itself and the college communities about environmental conservation, seek new opportunities for outreach, and encourage the meeting of people of common interests.

Williams Political Forum

Student Leaders: Davey Morse ([email protected])
Faculty/Staff Adviser: TBD

The Williams Forum provides the primary platform for open political discourse in the College. The Forum hosts student-led debates and forums with political leaders, and its member pursue select political initiatives. The Forum is guided by deep mutual respect, appreciation of disagreement, and a drive to improve society.

Williams Positive Pathways Partnership

Student Leaders: Ruby Lawrence (rml4) & Emma Nathanson (esn1)
Faculty/Staff Advisors: Ash Bell

P3 provides tutoring services at the Berkshire House of Corrections in Pittsfield. Student tutors form positive relationships with inmates and help them pursue their academic goals.

Williams Pre-Health Society

Student Leaders: Hannah Stillman (his1) & Nina Van der Velde (ncv1)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Shivon Robinson

We provide support and opportunities for pre-health students to learn more about different fields.

Williams Refugee Advancement Coalition

This group is inactive as of the 2022-23 academic year.

Student Leaders: Kazi Raleh (kfr1) & Jonathan Breibart (jsb8)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Colin Ovitsky (cmo2)

The Williams Refugee Advancement Coalition seeks to assist in the advancement of refugees and evacuees coming into Berkshire County. Currently, we are collaborating with the Center for Learning in Action, Jewish Family Service, and other local organizations to mobilize structural assistance and create a welcoming environment for 60 Afghan evacuees who are in the process of being relocated to Pittsfield, MA. As the resettlement process further develops, we expect to be providing a diverse array of services that could make a tangible difference in their new lives and we would love your help!

Williams Secular Community

Student Leaders: Coly Elhai ([email protected])
Faculty/Staff Adviser: Colin Adams
Meeting Time/Place: Tuesdays 6 PM, Paresky

The purpose of the group is to build an inclusive community of agnostics, atheists, and all skeptics to socialize and connect in a variety of ways. We also aim to create a safe, non-religious space for anyone to engage in fulfilling discussions of their personal lives, current events, religion, life philosophy, or anything else. We do this through regular dinners and discussions that are open to everyone.

Williams Speaks

Student Leaders: Ananya Mayukha ([email protected]), Wilfred Lee ([email protected])
Faculty/Staff Adviser
: N/A
Meeting Time/Place: TBD

Williams Speaks matches each Williams student with a teacher and classroom at a local elementary school. As part of this organization, Williams students provide weekly lessons in public speaking to these kids, starting with simple and creative games and progressing to bigger projects. Although Williams speaks will provide a booklet with ideas for lesson plans and key skills to cover, Williams students are free to design their lessons tailored to their own interests and passions. Some work study opportunities are available, and transportation is always provided.

Williams Student Union

Student Leaders: Emmanuelle Copeland (ejc2) & Gwyn Chilcoat (gac4)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Ky Gerbush

We are the Williams Student Union, the advocacy branch of the Three Pillars Student Government. We seek to advocate for holistic student wellness.

Williamstown Community Preschool

Williamstown Community Preschool serves the needs of toddler, preschool, and school-age children and their families. From age 15 months to 12 years, children find a safe, caring environment at WCP where they can grow, learn, and thrive.

WCP offers a rich, developmentally appropriate learning environment that focuses on child-centered, child-directed activities. The WCP staff seeks to create opportunities for children to experience, explore, and gain an understanding of the world and the people around them. We encourage children to develop cooperative social skills by setting appropriate limits, by offering positive choices, and by helping children develop problem-solving skills. We promote a sense of self-worth in children by providing an atmosphere of trust and respect with regard to the children’s feelings, skills, choices, similarities, and differences.

Additional Information & Current Opportunities:

learning-in-action.williams.edu/opportunities/williamstown-community-preschool

WISHES

Student Leaders: Louis Gilbert-Bono ([email protected]), Duncan Cummings ([email protected])
Faculty/Staff Adviser: George McCormack ([email protected])
Meeting Time/Place: 2 days weekly, Williamstown Elementary

WISHES (Williams Initiative for Student Health in Elementary Schools) is a group of Williams students who teach a health and nutrition class to the Williamstown Elementary School fifth grade classes. We teach one class per week in the spring, and the class we teach uses games, activities, and lessons to teach the students about the food pyramid, healthy exercise, body image, and a variety of other health and nutrition related topics. Each member of the group is in charge of a group of about 4 students to whom they deliver the week’s lesson plan every week.