Williams College Announces New Staff Appointments
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. - Williams College has announced the following staff appointments.Justin Adkins, queer life coordinator. Before coming to Williams, Adkins worked locally as a web developer. He volunteered at the Williamstown Youth Center and has experience working with transgender youth. Adkins received his B.S. in management of information systems from the Marlboro College Grad Center.
Sarah C. Becker, director of the Williams College Children's Center. Becker was previously lead teacher and co-director of the Bennington College Early Childhood Center. She has also taught on the college level; her courses included Teaching Young Children and Leadership, Mentoring, and Supervision for Early Childhood Practitioners. Becker received her B.A. in family and educational studies from Wesleyan University and her M.A. in education from Goddard College.
Holley Burfoot-Rochford, assistant director of the Williams College Children's Center. Burfoot-Rochford recently served as the executive director of the Magic Mountain Children's Center in South Royalton, Vt. She received her B.A. in sociology from Northeastern University and her M.A. in social work from Indiana University.
Elizabeth B. Burnett, senior development officer. Burnett, the former executive director of Writers in the Schools Program in Portland, Ore., received the Soapstone writing awards in 2005 and 2007, and was more recently named the author-in-residence at the University Club in Portland. A Williams alumna, Burnett received her B.A. in psychology and women's studies in 1994 and her M.F.A. in creative writing from the University of Montana.
David A. Chalifoux, library shelving facility supervisor. Chalifoux is the former director of maintenance and environmental services at the Mt. Greylock Extended Care Facility and has worked in the Berkshires for more than 10 years. He received his associate degree in fire science.
Kathryn E. Dempsey, science liaison. A Williams alumna, Dempsey worked locally as a teaching assistant, substitute teacher, and 8th-grade science and math teacher. She received her B.A. in biology in 2004 and is studying for her M.A. in education at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.
Jennifer (Jenny) Dewar, concert and event manager. Before coming to Williams, Dewar worked as a stage manager on Broadway. She received her B.A. in English literature from the University of Michigan.
Christopher M. T. Himes, Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) postdoctoral research fellow. In 2006, Himes received the Charlotte Cornell Crary Award for Excellence in Teaching Introductory Biology and was named a Diversity Scholar by the American Institute of Biological Sciences. He has taught at the University of Washington. Himes received his B.S. in biology from the University of Massachusetts and is studying for his Ph.D. in biology at the University of Washington.
B. Thomas Henry, senior development officer. Previously, Henry was director of parent funding at Deerfield Academy in Mass. and president and CEO of Quote.com and IPVision, Inc. Henry received his B.A. in architecture from Princeton University and his M.L.A. in environmental planning and design from Harvard University.
Angela E. Hillman, development research specialist. Before coming to Williams, Hillman worked as a prospect researcher for Bennington College. She received her B.S. in psychology from Trinity College and her M.A. in higher education from Arizona State University.
Jason B. Kohn, alumni relations intern. A Williams alumnus, Kohn received his B.A. in art history in 2008. As a student, he was a member of the Williams Community Building Program and co-resident of the Junior Advisors in 2006-07.
Rexford M. Lybrand, assistant director of alumni relations and director of classes and reunions. Before coming to Williams, Lybrand taught science and social studies in Colorado. He received his B.S. in biology and secondary science education from the Kennesaw State University in 2003 and his M.S. in biology for teachers from the University of Washington in 2006.
Sergio N. Marte, admission intern. A Williams alumnus, Marte received his B.A. in chemistry and women's and gender studies in 2008. He worked for the Williams College Summer Science Program and in the admission office.
Diana Prideaux-Brune, associate vice president for facilities. Prideaux-Brune was formerly vice chancellor for facilities at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell, where she also previously held the position of special assistant for economic development. She has worked for the city of Lowell as chief planner and played leadership roles in the historic district departments of Lowell and Boston. Prideaux-Brune received her B.S. in architecture from the University of Virginia and her M.A. in historic preservation planning from Cornell University.
Derrick Robertson, assistant director of admission. Before coming to Williams, Robertson worked as a policy analyst and director of student outreach for the Department of Social Services in Opelousas, La. In December 2005, he was named one of GQ Magazine's Men of the Year for his heroism during Hurricane Katrina, when he was director of middle school initiatives for the Big Buddy Program. Robertson received his B.A. in political science from Southern University and A&M College.
Amanda R. Santiago, career-counseling intern. Santiago, a Williams alumna, received her B.A. in classics in 2008. As a member of the Newman Catholic Association, she participated in a pilgrimage to Rome in 2007-08. Santiago worked as a council aide at the District Office of Council member Erik Dilan in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Deborah Schneer, writing coordinator. Schneer has instructed college-level courses on subjects ranging from Modern American Literature to Writing for Critical Consciousness to Drama. More recently, she worked locally as a project manager for Berkshire Family and Individual Resources. Schneer received her B.A. and Ph.D from the University of Massachusetts.
Raymond Torrenti, museum membership and special events manager. Torrenti was interim special events coordinator of the Williams College Museum of Art. He received his B.A. in biblical studies and American studies from Barrington College; his M.Div. in theology, spirituality, counseling, and ministry from Weston School of Theology; and his Ph.D. in psychology and spirituality from Boston University.
