Tom Spencer

Professional Bio

Favorite Quote: "I’m a pessimist because of intelligence, but an optimist because of will.” -Antoni Gramsci, 1929
What this says to me is that the more we learn about the world, the easier it can be to feel overwhelmed and cynical. A feeling of “what’s the point in trying?” may creep in.

Although research shows that pessimists may see the world more accurately, optimists get more work done. Cultivating, maintaining, and renewing this optimism can take work, but is an essential life task.

Favorite College Memory: Anytime I had the chance to learn more about what we had studied in the classroom in a real world context. This includes ecology and geology lessons in the Olympic Rain Forest (Washington), learning about surrealist art in France and seeing the Palais Ideal (Hauterives, France), and more vividly seeing the intersections of history, (global) politics, race, class, and social change when working as a study abroad assistant in Cape Town, South Africa.

Favorite Campus Location: The duck pond area around the Hintz Family Alumni Center. It's a tranquil place to relax in the middle of a busy campus.

Favorite Color: Blue

Favorite Berkey Creamery Flavor: Russ "Digs" Roseberry