Michael Reed, Class of 1975

During the course of your professional life, first as an educational psychologist at the Children’s Residential Treatment Center in Washington, then here at Williams in admissions and alumni relations, and later on as director of programs for the A Better Chance organization, your efforts have consistently targeted one of our society’s most pressing needs—the social, economic, and developmental well-being of our young people. Currently, as regional vice president of INROADS, a national organization whose goal is to develop the skills of talented minority youth, you continue on a course which benefits young African-Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans. The success of these hard-working and committed young people, joined through their connection with INROADS to business sponsors and mentors, prepares them for positions of responsibility in corporations throughout the country and for leadership roles in their communities. Coordinating the work of affiliates in Baltimore, Richmond and West Virginia, and directly managing the Washington office which you established in 1988, you are part of the national INROADS network which embraces 6,000 high school and college student interns and 750 sponsoring corporations in 32 states and the District of Columbia. In 1991 INROADS was recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor for its efforts to enhance the quality of the American work force. And here at Williams we commend you for your dedicated and sustained commitment to the task of helping young people of color to improve their lives. In recognition of your distinguished achievement in helping minority youth to achieve their full potential, Williams College is proud to honor you with its Bicentennial Medal.