Williams College Professor Receives Regional Teaching Award

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Susan R. Loepp, professor of mathematics at Williams College, has been awarded a regional teaching award from the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).  The Northeastern Section Teaching Award is given out every year to an "extraordinarily successful" professor who gets students excited about math.

At Williams since 1996, Loepp teaches Applied Abstract Algebra, Algebraic Error-Correcting Codes, and Galois Theory and Modules. She is an authority on commutative algebra. Her research has appeared in the Journal of Algebra and the Journal of Pure and Applied Algebra, among others.

In 2000, she and physics professor Bill Wootters received a grant from the National Science Foundation to develop a course on using abstract algebra and quantum physics to protect information. They are the authors of the subsequent textbook "Protecting Information: From Classical Error Correction to Quantum Cryptography."

Teaching awards are not new to Loepp. At Williams, she received the 2001 Faculty of the Year Award, which is presented by the student body. When she was in graduate school, she was recognized four times for excellence in teaching. She is a contender for the MAA’s national Haimo Award.

Loepp received her B.A. and B.S. from Bethel College in Kansas, and her Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Texas at Austin. She received the 2007 Young Alumnus Award from Bethel. Before coming to Williams, she taught at the University of Nebraska.

Three other Williams professors— Frank Morgan, Colin Adams, and Ed Burger— have won previous Northeastern Section Teaching Awards.

The MAA is the largest professional society that focuses on undergraduate mathematics education. Its mission is to advance the mathematical sciences, especially at the collegiate level. The MAA's Northeastern Section includes the six New England states and four Canadian provinces.

Williamstown's Images Cinema Set for May 22 Reopening

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
05:28AM / Friday, May 01, 2026

Construction work on the main screen room at Images is seen through a hole cut for a to-be-installed projector.

 

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Images Cinema will be making up for lost time when the non-profit venue reopens this month after a major renovation and redesign.

 

"First Look," a two-week festival screening some of the biggest films of the last year, will usher in a new era for the century-old Spring Street venue.

 

The Oscar winner for Best Picture is just one of more than a dozen films that will be shown during the festival, which will run from May 22 through June 4.

 

"After a long, cold winter, we're so excited to fully spring back into action at Images," Executive Director Dan Hudson said in a news release. "What better way to celebrate with the community than by showing great films, some of which we have not yet been able to present?"

 

Images members will be able to see films ranging from "One Battle After Another" to "Zootopia 2" for free. Non-members will be able to attend for just $5 during the two-week festival.

 

The theater itself figures to be part of the draw.

 

After closing for renovations in October, Images will reopen with a new configuration, including a 70-seat main theater, an 18-seat second theater and a 15-seat lounge available for "intimate" screenings and events. The main screen will feature Dolby Atmos immersive sound and 4K laser projection. The second screen will have 7.1 surround sound and 2K laser projection.