Editor’s note: View images from the May 9 reception below. 

Five longtime members of the Clark University faculty are retiring at the end of the academic year, taking with them 157 years of experience and countless Clark memories. Getting ready to start their much-deserved next chapters are (in order of length of service) Doug Little, History, 45 years; John Brown, Economics, 37 years; Drew McCoy, History, 32 years; Alice Valentine, Language, Literature, and Culture, 30 years; and Davis Baird, Philosophy (and former provost), 13 years. These esteemed scholars will be honored at a reception on Tuesday, May 9, from 4 to 6 p.m. in Tilton Hall. Before saying goodbye, ClarkNOW caught up with the departing professors to chat about their careers — and to find out what joys of retirement await them.

• Doug Little: ‘Clark is a place where a single person can make a difference’
• John Brown: ‘I never felt like I had to stay in one lane’
• Drew McCoy: ‘Clark got to me — and I still feel this way’
• Alice Valentine: ‘You’re walking in someone else’s shoes’
• Davis Baird: ‘Clark grows on you’