Christine Larson Mason, Assistant Professor of Physical Education, Emerita

Olympic medalist, World Cup athlete, Field Hockey Hall of Fame inductee, you joined the Williams coaching staff as perhaps its most accomplished athlete ever. In a department then predominately male, you became its first senior woman administrator and leave now as its first retiring female coach. In the intervening decades you helped lead Williams into the world of Title IX, ably guided both field hockey and lacrosse, and, in physical education classes, shared your joy of play with countless students. Competitive? You bet. Word has it that you lost a badminton match to a student only once, and these many years later still lose sleep over it. Caring? That, too.  Always aware of which student, colleague, or neighbor needed support, and instinctively dropping everything to provide it. Your sharp perception of the game earned you a National Coach of the Year Award, while your always-upbeat attitude has inspired generations of players, many of whom have gone on to careers in coaching—perhaps the greatest honor of all.

I hereby declare you Assistant Professor of Physical Education, Emerita, entitled to all the rights, honors, and privileges appertaining thereto.

June 4, 2017