In addition to improving the physical footprint of the buildings that make up the complex, the Davis Center Initiative seeks to support the programming, events and opportunities all across campus that help build community and pathways to success for historically underrepresented students—as well as build the capacity for vibrant conversation around deeper inclusion.
Education and Support
The Davis Center organizes, sponsors and supports dozens of activities each year that engage with complex issues of identity, history and cultures as they affect intellectual, creative and social life. From hosting lunchtime dialogues on critical race theory to workshops on how to request letters of recommendation, from monthly social change film talks to guest lectures on mental health and wholeness for Black, Indigenous and People of Color, the center offers many points of engagement.
Williams Firsts
Roughly 400 Williams students annually are the first in their families to receive a college degree, attend a U.S. institution of higher education or attend a highly selective college. From a pre-orientation program designed especially for these incoming students and their families to a special graduation ceremony—and with lots of workshops, opportunities, trips and social events throughout the academic year—programming centers the experiences and challenges of being a member of the Williams Firsts community.
Enriching and Intensive
Aimed at students from historically underrepresented groups, the college hosts two free, five-week summer programs—the Summer Science Program and Summer Humanities and Social Sciences—that provide an intensive introduction to Williams. Students take courses with Williams professors and learn about the many academic, research and writing resources and opportunities the college has to offer. The connections they forge with faculty, staff and peers buoy them throughout their time at Williams and give them a deep sense of belonging on campus and in the community.
Building the Future of Higher Ed
The Allison Davis Research Fellowship increases racial and socioeconomic diversity in higher education by preparing students from historically underrepresented groups for academic careers. The fellowship provides opportunities for faculty-mentored research, preparation for graduate school and individualized support.
Exploring Careers
Students can gain valuable, hands-on experience and dig deeply into projects they’re passionate about through racial justice and social justice internships that otherwise would be out of reach as low-paying or unpaid opportunities.
Fostering Communication
The Public Humanities fellows program draws from art, culture and history to engage, inspire and educate public audiences; build awareness; and stimulate dialogue around issues of controversy and conflict. Students undertake this work as a class or independent study project, fieldwork, an internship or an extracurricular activity.
Deepening Empathy
Claiming Williams has marked the start of the spring semester since its grassroots founding in 2008. Classes pause for an entire day so the campus community can participate in conversations and workshops about building and sustaining community. Williams Reads, a campus-wide common reading experience that runs in conjunction with Claiming Williams, fosters connections through a book that celebrates and deepens our appreciation of diversity, equity and inclusion.
Leveraging Creativity
The Davis Center's Towards Inclusion, Diversity & Equity (TIDE) Grants support student and staff programming that infuses inclusion, diversity and equity into all aspects of our campus community.