Denise Littlefield Sobel ('75) takes us on a highly personal journey through her varied and interesting life. It starts with her decision to attend Williams and her experience as a member of the first class of women to enroll at Williams for a full four-year term.  Denise talks candidly about mental health struggles that she encountered, including serious bouts of depression, toward the end of her years at the College. Continuing in this personal vein, Denise discusses her conversion to Judaism against the strong wishes of a parent, and how she has come to practice acceptance as a parent herself. Another intensely personal portion of the interview focuses on the loss of Denise’s son, Elliot, who died at a tragically early age.  Denise closes the episode with a discussion of her many years of philanthropy—focusing on arts and culture—and her recent appointment as Chair of the Clark Art Institute’s Board of Trustees, the first woman to hold the position.

This interview was recorded in January 2023 at CDM Studios in New York City.

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