Sharing sad news

Dear Faculty, Staff, and Students: 
  
It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we share with you the news that our colleague and friend, Professor Amy Richter, passed away yesterday after a brief but serious illness. Amy was born and raised in New York City, and while she was always true to her NYC roots, she made a second home in Worcester — where she was a vibrant and active community member, even being named a Hometown Hero in 2023 by Worcester Magazine.  

Clark was fortunate to have her join the History Department faculty in 2000, where she was recognized in countless ways for her leadership, service, and scholarly activity. Her doctoral work at Columbia earned her the 2001 Lerner-Scott Prize for Best Doctoral Dissertation in U.S. Women’s History from the Organization of American Historians.

Among her many community efforts, Amy served as director for the Worcester chapter of The Clemente Course in the Humanities, where she made it imperative that university-level learning be made accessible to all city residents, especially those for whom a college education might otherwise be unavailable. Her efforts earned her the 2023 John W. Lund Community Achievement Award, which also recognized her involvement with Simon Says Give, an organization that provides binders and school supplies to new middle-schoolers and birthday parties for younger children. The Worcester chapter of Simon Says Give, a national organization, was founded by Richter’s son, Simon, and her husband, Jim Eber.

Amy was also an affiliated faculty member with the Urban Studies and CGRAS programs and the author of many books, chapters, and articles about women’s studies and 19th- and 20th-century American and cultural studies. She was a remarkable faculty leader, mentoring countless colleagues in her role as chair of the History Department, and was adored by her students. During her Clark career, she was honored as the Outstanding Academic Advisor of the Year, Distinguished Academic Advisor of the Year, and Outstanding Teacher. 
 
As director of the Higgins School of Humanities (now the Alice Coonley Higgins Institute for Arts and Humanities) from 2013 to 2017, Amy engaged the campus around some of the most pressing issues of our time and hosted a series of speakers who challenged us to think deeply, and differently, about the world around us. 

We will come together at a future date to celebrate Amy’s life and her legacy at Clark. In the meantime, we know you join us in extending our deepest sympathies to Jim and Simon. May Professor Richter’s spirit continue to shine in all whom she taught, mentored, and championed. 

As always, resources are available to anyone who needs them during this difficult time. For students, the Center for Counseling and Personal Growth (CPG) is available to provide support and/or resources for students. Students who are currently in Massachusetts can reach the counseling center at 508-793-7678 or by email at counseling@clarku.edu to schedule a same-day session to meet individually or as a group. Faculty and staff may access our employee assistance program, Lucet (eap.lucethealth.com, code Clark University, or 800-624-5544). 
 
Sincerely, 
  
David B. Fithian ’87 
President 
  
John Magee 
Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs