Letter from James McCarthy '11

 James A. McCarthy ‘11 

1828 Paresky Center 

Williamstown, MA 01267 

January 15, 2011 

Professor William Wagner 

Dean of the Faculty 

Williams College 

Williamstown, MA 

Dear Professor Wagner, 

I’m writing to implore you to reconsider the decision to not renew Professor Sheafe Satterthwaite’s teaching contract. If the decision is not repealed, Williams College will suffer the loss of a truly unique and inspiring character, a man that very much embodies the creative, probing and ever-observant intellectual spirit that sets Williams apart from other institutions. 

I was formally a student of Sheafe Satterthwaite in the Fall of 2009, in his American Landscape History course, and he opened my eyes to a new way of viewing the world. Sheafe finds provocative connections in everything around us, and questions his students in ways that encourages them to also see these connections, to understand that the world around us can always be explained in much more specific terms. Sheafe, however, does not totally direct the student’s response, and encourages one to employ this method of careful inquisition and observation in a vein that the student so pleases. In this way, Sheafe encourages one to pursue their own academic interests, and in a wholly unique and previously unexplored way. And Sheafe has genuine interests in all these different realms that students pursue, because he is a true academic, and believes in learning from his students as much as they learn from him. 

Sheafe’s interest in his students is unparalleled, and is perhaps his greatest gift to the college. Sheafe makes himself available for extra-curricular conversation every single day he is on campus, and students take him up on it frequently. His schedule is often full, and many people meeting with him are past students who are no longer in a course with him. Why do so many students seek out Sheafe? Because Sheafe listens, observes, and actually cares. If you meet him for a coffee on Tuesday, he will appear at Wednesday’s class with books from his personal library that he then loans to you, because he thinks there may be something in there of interest. He wants to provide the student with all available resources so that they can find out answers to their own questions, find out for themselves how they view the world and their academic discipline. Sheafe’s interest in his students allows him to ask questions that, in finding the answer, provide them new personal and intellectual understanding. Sheafe’s ability to ask, rather than tell, to observe and explain inconsistencies in one’s thoughts, allows him to provide direction for students, but for the students to remain the true drivers of their education. This is why I so often meet with Sheafe; he understands my interests, and finds ways to help me pursue them more effectively. 

Sheafe’s commitment to his students is truly incredible. I am a Geosciences major interested in soil science, which is a somewhat rare interest at the college. I’m also interested in the evolution of American agricultural practice, which is what initially brought me to American Landscape History. Sheafe, having learned of my uncommon interests, was fascinated and did everything he could to help me learn more, and to encourage me to pursue that interest. He learned that I was going to study soil science abroad in New Zealand the following semester, and wanted to know as much as he could about the university that I would attend. Once I was in NZ, Sheafe and I were in frequent contact through e-mail, and he, like always, would ask me questions and hope that I could report back. In this way, he always kept me stretching for more knowledge, talking to new people, learning outside of the classroom. Sheafe also put together some of my papers that I had written for his class, and sent them along with a letter he wrote on my behalf, to high up officials at the university: the president, the dean of students, and the dean of agricultural sciences. I did not ask Sheafe to do this for me; it was entirely of his own volition. A few weeks later, I was contacted by the university, and the dean of agricultural sciences invited me to his office for a meeting. Meeting with the dean was a great opportunity to ask a professional about soils, New Zealand, agriculture, and education. Sheafe also contacted some friends of his in New Zealand for me, and they were kind enough to show me around some. 

I know that my relationship with Sheafe is not unique. Many others know the value of Sheafe, and seek him out regularly for advice and just a friendly chat. The man’s entire life is devoted to education, and nothing provides him more enjoyment than the opportunity to educate his students, except maybe hearing from an old student of his, finally ready to answer an old question of Sheafe’s. Of all the professors and friends I’ve had at Williams, Sheafe, without a doubt, has been the most influential to me. I’m sure I’m not the only student to say that. That fact alone merits reconsideration of the decision to not renew his contract. Sheafe Satterthwaite will always provide his energy, guidance, and probing questions to students, as long as he is at Williams. Not extending his contract, however, deprives future students of a great resource. Depriving Sheafe of the work he loves and the students he admires, which is something that he has earned through years of service, is truly disheartening. I hope you will reconsider. I trust that you will. 

Regards, 

James A. McCarthy ‘11