• About
  • Editorial Board
    • Staff Writers
  • Advertise
  • Join Us
  • Archives
The Wellesley News -
  • News and Features
    • Professor Phillip Levine Discusses “A Problem of Fit”
      Professor Phillip Levine Discusses “A Problem of Fit”
    • CS Department shifts CS 111 course structure
      CS Department shifts CS 111 course structure
    • WAMI and WRJ host discussion on criminalization of abortion
      WAMI and WRJ host discussion on criminalization of abortion
    • News
      • News in Brief
      • Nation & World
      • President’s Corner
      • Senate Report
    • Features
      • Alumnae Spotlight
      • Eye on Science
      • Faculty Focus
      • LGBTQIA+ Column
  • Opinions
    • Why Art Basel is partially responsible for Miami’s gentrification
      Why Art Basel is partially responsible for Miami’s gentrification
    • It’s time to put traditional grading to the test
      It’s time to put traditional grading to the test
    • What can the fall of Z-library teach us about textbook accessibility?
      What can the fall of Z-library teach us about textbook accessibility?
    • Staff Editorial
    • Letters to the Editor
    • The Elephant in the Room
  • Arts
    • No image
      Pentimento’s Open Mic is Like an Old Patchwork Quilt–Worn, Yet Cozy
    • No image
      Kanye’s Antisemitism Steps on his Shoe Brand
    • Lousy Realities: Luca Guadagnino (2015)
      Lousy Realities: Luca Guadagnino (2015)
    • Arts In The News
    • Reviews
    • Music Peek
    • Books Before Boys
  • Sports and Wellness
    • Student-Athlete of October
      Student-Athlete of October
    • Athletics Update Oct. 19, 2022
      Athletics Update Oct. 19, 2022
    • The Case for Body Neutrality
      The Case for Body Neutrality
    • Athlete of the Week
    • Boston Sports Update
    • The Vegan Digest
    • The SHE Corner
  • The Wellesley Snooze
    • Top 10 Girlbosses who aren’t alumnae, but I would totally believe you if you told me they were
      Top 10 Girlbosses who aren’t alumnae, but I would totally believe you if you told me they were
    • Wendy Wellesley’s Thanksgiving Menu
      Wendy Wellesley’s Thanksgiving Menu
    • The Snooze Awards for the Best Tanners of 2022
      The Snooze Awards for the Best Tanners of 2022
  • Miscellanea
    • President’s Column: The Butterfly Effect
      President’s Column: The Butterfly Effect
    • Administrators shocked to learn that students dislike being left in dark
      Administrators shocked to learn that students dislike being left in dark
    • 50 Lies You Tell Yourself in Order to Survive Until Graduation
      50 Lies You Tell Yourself in Order to Survive Until Graduation
    • The Dose
    • The Olive Branch
    • Multimedia
      • Galleries
      • Infographics
      • Videos
By Emily Levine News, News and Features, News in BriefMay 4, 2022

In memory of Professor Rebecca Summerhays

Professor Rebecca Summerhays was a visiting lecturer of the Writing Program at Wellesley.

Wellesley’s Professor Rebecca Summerhays passed away on April 28th, 2022. Prof. Summerhays was an adored writing professor, having taught WRIT 145: From Penelope’s Loom to the Pussy Hat: Women, Art, Craft, and Protest, among other Writing Program courses, since before the pandemic. She specialized in nineteenth-century portrayals and descriptions of the human body, Victorian female authors in their representation of human feeling, and generally what makes us “uniquely human.” Before arriving at Wellesley, Prof. Summerhays taught at Harvard University, following her Ph.D. studies at Brown University and undergraduate time at the University of Utah. 

My brief time as Prof. Summerhays’ student feels blurred, despite it being merely a year ago. Perhaps it’s because of this sudden and tragic news, or pandemic fatigue. Regardless, despite my now fuzzy recollection, what remained crystal clear was Prof. Summerhays’ bright spirit. We only saw her over Zoom, but the computer’s pixels weren’t enough to deter her enthusiasm during our three weeks together. And it was just three weeks. But, within that time, our class grew to know, love and share with each other. It was with Prof. Summerhays’ warmth, trust and transparency that I looked forward to breakout rooms where she would always pop in and rattle on about a banana bread recipe she had just tried, the newest season of “The Crown” or her newest favorite hiking trail. As a first-year, after having endured an obscure and unprecedented Wellesley semester, simply being taught by someone who happened to be labeled a professor but felt more like a friend, was truly an experience I may never have again. 

She encouraged us to craft during class. She called them “crafternoons.” If our hands weren’t busy with beads, or embroidery, or yarn, or paint, we weren’t paying attention. I learned not to take school so seriously all the time – that it was something I could quite literally craft and an experience I myself could curate. 

When she left us after those first three weeks, the light dimmed a little. But we trusted that she’d come back and we’d be able to see her in the Fall to update her on our own banana bread recipes, “The Crown” hot takes and tricky hiking trails. And she did come back this Spring. Prof. Summerhays was able to spread her light to new first years, those in need of the same healing we needed last year. Even though her time was cut short, her light and warmth was still felt and appreciated by everyone who was lucky enough to be her student. 

I will miss Professor Rebecca Summerhays, and I hope you will too. 

Tags

in memoryRebecca SummerhaysWellesleyWriting Program

Share on

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Google +
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
Previous articleTrans flag controversy: College power washes staircase after trans flag is painted over Harry Potter spray paint
Next articleThe Wellesley (COVID) 100

You may also like

Professor Phillip Levine Discusses “A Problem of Fit”

CS Department shifts CS 111 course structure

WAMI and WRJ host discussion on criminalization of abortion

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Email Newsletter

Sign up to receive our weekly digest in your inbox

* indicates required

Top Articles

Sorry. No data so far.

Recent Tweets

Tweets by @Wellesley_News

The independent student newspaper of Wellesley College since 1901.

Sign up to receive our weekly digest in your inbox

* indicates required

  • About
  • Editorial Board
    • Staff Writers
  • Advertise
  • Join Us
  • Archives
COPYRIGHT © 2023 THE WELLESLEY NEWS
Back to top