Honoring a Legend

Members of the Class of 1975 have launched an effort to establish a professorship in honor of the late Mike Reed ’75, a pioneer in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) whose work deeply influenced the college and higher education in general. The Michael E. Reed Class of 1975 Social Justice Professorship will be held by a distinguished professor whose work addresses social justice, race and/or gender.

Reed’s career took shape within what was then the nascent DEI space. A dedicated Williams volunteer, he was serving on the Board of Trustees when the college hired him as the inaugural vice president for strategic planning and institutional diversity. He would go on to similar, often newly created, leadership positions at Dickinson and Bowdoin, among other institutions.

The Class of 1975, which is marking its 50th reunion in June, was Williams’ first fully coeducational class and one of the most racially diverse up to that point. Reed’s classmates say they want to honor his legacy of mentorship and leadership, which influenced the lives of thousands of Williams students and alums. The class gift will also include funds for student internships and student and faculty research.

Read Williams’ commemoration of Michael E. Reed ’75 at bit.ly/mike_reed and learn more about the Class of 1975’s fundraising page for more information.

Photo from Bowdoin News.