Dear Students,
I am writing to share the very sad news that Sam Sommers, Professor in and Chair of the Department of Psychology, passed away earlier this week.
I can imagine the heartbreak and pain you may be feeling upon hearing this devastating news while away from campus and one another during Spring Break. This is a tragic loss and it will take us all time to process the grief of losing such a pillar of our Tufts community.
Many of you knew Professor Sommers (or “Sam” as he often told students to use) personally as a teacher, advisor, and/or mentor. He excelled in those roles not just for his knowledge, but also for his capacity to connect with others, especially students. He was caring and authentic, and, in moments of difficulty, students often turned to Sam for his guidance and support. He was a well-known figure on this campus even for those who may not have taken his courses, and part of his legacy will be as an example of how one gives back to their community.
Sam first joined Tufts in 2003 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology, and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2009 and to Professor in 2016. I had the honor of shepherding his promotion case to full Professor when I was a Dean of Academic Affairs and admired his research and scholarship. I also recruited him as Department Chair in 2019, and his fellow department chairs and program directors as well as department colleagues will inevitably miss his wisdom and contributions. He was also a dedicated and memorable member of many, many faculty committees.
Sam received his BA from Williams College and his PhD from the University of Michigan (and as Sam would say, “GO BLUE!”). He was an experimental social psychologist interested in issues related to stereotyping, prejudice, and group diversity, and ran the Racial Equity & Diversity Lab. Sam’s research focused on race and social perception, judgment, and interaction as well as the intersection of psychology and law. In recognition of this work, in 2008 he received the Saleem Shah Award for Early Career Excellence from the American Psychology-Law Society.
An amazing teacher who truly cared for his students’ learning, Sam taught Introduction to Psychology, Social Psychology, Experimental Psychology, and upper-level seminars in social psychology and psychology and law. In 2007, he won the Lerman-Neubauer Prize for Outstanding Teaching and Advising at Tufts; in 2009, he was named Gerald R. Gill Professor of the Year by the Student Senate; in 2023, he received the Lillian and Joseph Leibner Award for Excellence in Teaching and Advising. He was also a mainstay of almost every Parent and Family Weekend and Jumbo Days, where his lectures were popular and engaging.
In addition to authoring many scholarly articles with his colleagues and lab members, Sam wrote two general audience books: Situations Matter (2011) and This is Your Brain on Sports (2016) with co-author L. Jon Wertheim. He was also a co-author of textbooks for Introductory Psychology and Social Psychology.
Sam’s presence beyond the classroom was significant, working closely with staff and faculty in committees and working groups dedicated to many subjects at Tufts. His equanimity and wisdom made him a go-to person that many relied on for advice and ideas.
He was a dear friend to many––including myself––and especially in his home department of Psychology. His colleagues noted the following: “Sam was generous with his time, always thoughtful, exceedingly fair and principled, a fierce advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion, and the first to inject light into serious conversations with his quick wit and keen mind. He showed his colleagues and students every day how much he cared for and respected them, including by responding with impressive speed to every message, and by empathetically checking in with members of his Tufts family during times that he knew (or just guessed) would be stressful for them. Sam had genuine compassion and phenomenal perspective-taking skills that together made him a stellar teacher, advisor, leader, colleague, and friend. We are so very grateful for the time we shared with Sam. He taught us all so much through both words and actions, and we are truly better people for having known him. The Department of Psychology will never be the same without Sam. But we will keep his memory alive by following his words and actions like a recipe to maintain and enhance the strong community that Sam himself fostered so selflessly.”
Sam is survived by his beloved family: his wife, Marilyn; his daughters Abby, A25, and Sophie, A27; as well as his many dear friends.
Available support resources
During difficult moments such as these, we encourage you to connect and spend time with your friends, your classmates, and your loved ones, whether at or outside of Tufts. On campus there also are multiple points of support for students that can respond to individual and group needs. Ears for Peers is presently closed and will reopen following Spring Break. However, here’s how to get started:
If you’re not sure what resources or supports are available, please reach out to the Student Support team. They can talk you through your options and help you figure out what the next steps may be.
If you think you might benefit from connecting with a counselor, or even if you are not sure but want to explore that, you can make an appointment with Counseling and Mental Health Services (CMHS) by calling 617-627-3360. Appointments with a clinician are available weekdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. You also can access the online scheduling system for new appointments, or for Ask a Counselor 15 minute phone consultations, through the Health and Wellness patient portal.
To speak with a counselor when CMHS is closed, call CMHS at 617-627-3360 and follow the prompts to connect with the Counselor On-Call.
The International Center and the Division of Student Diversity and Inclusion are available to provide additional student support and resources for their communities, as well as direct questions or concerns to partners on campus.
For all members of the Tufts community, the University Chaplaincy can provide additional support regardless of denomination or belief. If you wish to contact us before returning to campus from Spring Break, please do so via our Contact a Chaplain form.
Staff and faculty can access the Tufts Employee Assistance Program for support at any time.
I am struggling to imagine Tufts without Sam Sommers. We will be working on ways to ensure our memory of his many contributions remains at Tufts for generations to come. Please see this Tufts Now article on some of the ways Sam impacted the community at Tufts.
Thank you for joining us as we extend our compassion and condolences to Sam’s loved ones and the many faculty, staff, and students who worked closely with him.
Sincerely,
Bárbara M. Brizuela
Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences
Professor of Education
Tufts University
