Williams College Names Interim President

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Williams College professor Protik (Tiku) Majumder has been named the college's interim president, effective Jan. 1, 2018, until a new president is in place.

Majumder will replace current President Adam Falk, who announced in June he would leave Williams at the end of December to become president of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. He has served as president since 2010.

The Williams College Board of Trustees approved the appointment of Majumder on Monday.

Majumder currently serves as the Barclay Jermain professor of Natural Philosophy and director of the Science Center. In a letter to the college community on Tuesday, Michael Eisenson, chairman of the board of trustees, wrote that Majumder "graciously" agreed to accept the role.

"Tiku has an outstanding record as a Williams teacher and mentor, scientist, and faculty leader, and just as importantly has earned wide trust and respect across the Williams community," Eisenson wrote. "Our objective was to find an interim president with a keen understanding of our institution, a love of Williams, of its students, and of its faculty, enormous patience, tact, and insight, and an ability to respond with intelligence, compassion, and calm to the inevitable challenges that will arise from time to time. 

"Tiku has each of these qualities, and many more. He will do a superb job of keeping Williams on track."

Eisenson said the trustees have formed a Presidential Search Committee charged with presenting to the fill board candidates to become the next president, as well as with ensuring that every member of the Williams community has an opportunity to give input with respect to qualities sought in a new presidents. The Search Committee includes representatives from every sector of the Williams community: students, staff, alumni, faculty, and trustees. Several members are also Williams parents. 

The board has retained the firm Spencer Stuart as consultant, to help manage the search process. Spencer Stuart has been involved in numerous recent and successful academic searches at the highest levels, according to Eisenson, who wrote that presidential searches are "complex and sensitive."

The Search Committee will begin its work shortly; as a first step, it has created a website to find information and materials related to the search. 

"On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I want to again thank the members of the Presidential Search Committee for the work they are about to do, and Tiku Majumder for his service as interim president," Eisenson wrote. "I also want to convey to our entire community our enthusiasm and optimism as we set out to find the 18th president of Williams College."

Williamstown Board Opts to Negotiate with College on Water St. Lot

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
05:04AM / Tuesday, June 09, 2026

Newly elected board member Nate Budington, far left, participates in his first in-person meeting along with, from left, Matt Neely, Stephanie Boyd, Peter Beck, Shana Dixon and Town Manager Robert Menicocci.

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Select Board on Monday decided to enter into negotiations with Williams College on the sale of the vacant town-owned lot at 59 Water St.

 

But the board members made it clear that the college's proposal to acquire the lot is a starting point, not a final deal that the elected officials would accept.

 

"For the sake of continued conversation, I'm in favor of [awarding Williams the site], but if this process wasn't continued with the opportunity for further negotiation, I wouldn't vote to continue this," Peter Beck said. "I think that next step is necessary for us to get to a yes on this."

 

"I think there's wide agreement on that," Matthew Neely said just before the 5-0 vote to enter talks with the college.

 

Williams was the sole respondent to a town-issued request for proposals to develop the former town garage site, currently a dirt lot.

 

The college's stated intent is to build a new Facilities office and create up to 170 parking spaces at 59 Water Street. That use will allow the college to redevelop the current Facilities building site and parking lot as part of a reconception of the school's indoor athletic and recreation facilities.

 

Under the terms of the RFP, the college's proposal was subjected to review by an ad hoc advisory committee to the town manager, who brought the question to the Select Board. That board will have the final say on any purchase and sales agreement.