St. John’s College
Cambridge, CB2 1TP
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Prof. William Wagner
Dean of Faculty
Williams College
Williamstown, MA 01267
Dear Prof. Wagner,
I learned recently and with dismay that Sheafe Satterthwaite’s teaching contract at Williams is
to be terminated at the end of this year. I am saddened that Williams will be losing such a
valuable and unique professor. Of many wonderful classes that I took as an art history
student at Williams, none was more memorable than that which I had with Sheafe.
Sheafe’s approach to teaching is certainly unorthodox, and I suspect that for that reason
some students are at first somewhat baffled. But whether they come to an appreciation
immediately or only years later, many of his students have found Sheafe’s influence to be
profoundly valuable. He teaches by example, demonstrating a persistent curiosity about an
astonishing range of subjects, a scope which is not easily categorized within the conventional
academic framework. This expansive perspective is liberating and powerful as an academic
tool, and I know few professors who could match Sheafe in this regard.
Sheafe is unsurpassed in his dedication to students. His devotion is particularly notable
outside the classroom, where he is willing to spend an extraordinary amount of time meeting
with students. This level of care and interaction is precisely what Williams has always prided
itself on.
One of the great strengths of Williams as a liberal arts college is the diversity of voices,
philosophies, and approaches to which its students are exposed. Sheafe has been a vital part
of this mix for decades, and I very much hope that he will continue to serve the College for
as long as possible.
Yours sincerely,
Aaron Helfand, ‘05
