Smith College

Scenes at the 2024 Bridge Program!

Begun in 1970 as a program for African American students entering Smith, Bridge now welcomes first-year students who demonstrate a commitment to creating and maintaining culturally inclusive communities.

Bridge provides opportunities for finding mentors, friends, resources and a community—all during the first semester at Smith.

Photos by Jessica Scranton

https://www.smith.edu/your-campus/offices-services/multicultural-affairs/programs-activities/bridge-program

Welcome to campus, Smithies!

Smith’s Accessibility Resource Center is starting the semester with a new name—and a renewed focus on disability justice.

No Barriers! Smith’s Accessibility Resource Center starts the year with a new name focused on disability justice.

The second annual student leadership conference, held this week and last, was designed to bring student leaders together to think about their pivotal roles, learn more about what makes a good leader, and celebrate the coming year.

Photos by Jessica Scranton

Hadley officials got a 'geothermal primer' on a recent tour of Smith's green energy project.

Hadley school officials get geothermal primer from Smith College NORTHAMPTON — Hadley school leaders got an up-close look at Smith College’s geothermal project on Monday, as the school district explores the possibility of adapting the technology for heating and cooling its own Hopkins Academy.Announced originally...

As has been the tradition for many decades, new entering students are invited to the Smith College Botanic Garden's Lyman Plant House during the first few weeks on campus to pick out a plant for their new home. A wide variety of plants are on offer, including leafy tropical aroids and desert succulents, which are well suited for life indoors. Plant pick-up starts on Thursday, August 29 and runs for three weeks into September.

Welcome New Entering Smithies, Come Meet Your New Plant Welcome New Entering Smithies, Come Meet Your New Plant Published August 23, 2024 As has been the tradition for many decades, new entering students are invited to the Botanic Garden’s Lyman Plant House during the first few weeks on campus to pick out a plant for their new home. In previous years, ...

Ice cream with the president—and a flash mob? Yes, please! Tuesday's ice cream social welcomed faculty, staff, and some of the newly arrived athletes back to campus with treats from Cooked Stick Pops and Maple Valley Creamery.

Photos by Jessica Scranton.

For three Smithie friends, the Renaissance Faire hosted at Cummington Fairgrounds was the perfect opportunity to get together before the upcoming school year. They talked to the Berkshire Eagle about the draw of the event.

'How do you learn how to joust?' Cummington welcomes the Massachusetts Renaissance Faire Enthusiasts of history and fantasy gathered at Cummington Fairgrounds on Sunday for the Massachusetts Renaissance Faire, an event with live jousting demonstrations, reenactments and entertainment around every corner.

Hadley officials got a 'geothermal primer' on a recent tour of Smith's green energy project.

“This helped us a great deal with not only having us visually see what it looks like, giving us a tremendous amount of technical information, but also helped us with the kinds of things that at the front end when you’re looking at dollars and cents.”

Hadley school officials get geothermal primer from Smith College NORTHAMPTON — Hadley school leaders got an up-close look at Smith College’s geothermal project on Monday, as the school district explores the possibility of adapting the technology for heating and cooling its own Hopkins Academy.Announced originally...

Collecting tiny, river-dwelling creatures (macroinvertebrates) is a key part of the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship at Smith, as it helps provide insights into the health of Paradise Pond and the local ecosystem.

“When people think about biodiversity and protecting the environment and the climate, they’re not thinking about how important insects are,” says Lilian Olson ’25, who this year worked alongside several other fellows on Professor Marney Pratt’s research team.

No One Wants the Midges Record And Other Lessons From the River To understand Mill River water quality, students take a look at some of its smallest residents.

Professor James Lowenthal, leader of the light pollution subcommittee for the American Astronomical Society, tells “Undark” that an artificially brighter sky isn’t just costly for the advancement of astronomy, but it also could disrupt human connection.

Protecting the Darkness in Chile's Atacama Desert Light pollution is threatening the future of astronomy. Can a new nationwide lighting standard make a difference?

On Feminist Futures, Professor Carrie Baker talks with social justice lawyer and upcoming college activist-in-residence Ann Beeson. (The conversation about Beeson's work begins at 7:10.)

"I never saw the law as the only tool for advancing social change. I was always a believer that we needed multiple tools in our quiver to advance social justice."

Smith Prof Carrie Baker w/ activist-in-residence Ann Beeson 8/20/24: Northampton Mayor GL Sciarra: The Dem Convention & The Resilience Hub. Comedy Quiz w/ Maddy Benjamin, Pam Victor & Laura Patrick. Smith Prof Carrie Baker w/ activist-in-residence Ann Beeson

Flown by students and staff, drones provide a fresh look at campus—with centimeter-level precision.

Meet Patty the Drone and Her Pilots Meet Patty the Drone and Her Pilots Research & Inquiry Flown by students and staff, drones provide a fresh look at campus—with centimeter-level precision. Photo by Jessica Scranton BY RACHAEL HAGERSTROM ‘02. PHOTOS BY JESSICA SCRANTON AND SAL Published August 13, 2024 Lia Jacobs ’24 and Kala.....

In MIT Technology Review, Prof. Timothy Recuber reflects on what cemeteries and memorials might look like in the next century.

Happy birthday, baby! What the future holds for those born today An intelligent digital agent could be a companion for life—and other predictions for the next 125 years.

A new book by Professor Meg Thacher, “Cool, Cosmic Tattoos: Stars & Planets,” combines some 50 temporary tattoos with scientific facts about outer space, so kids can learn while they play. Thacher is a senior laboratory instructor in Smith's astronomy department.

Cool, Cosmic Tattoo Stars and Planets From tiny meteors to giant galaxies, this collection of 50 fun and educational Tattoos That Teach features awesome artwork and fascinating facts about outer ...

Congrats to Professor Steven Heydemann, who has been named a Wilson Center Fellow. As part of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars’ 2024–25 fellowship class, Heydemann will work on his project “Trajectories of Stateness in the Arab World” during a nine-month residence in Washington, D.C.

Wilson Center Announces 20 Members of 2024-2025 Fellowship Class WASHINGTON - The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars is proud to announce its 2024-2025 fellowship class. This year's group features 20 distinguished scholars and practitioners, made up of 11 women and 9 men, hailing from all over the world including the United States, Afghanistan, Arge...

Congratulations to Professor Nancy Cohen who recently received an Edward R. Murrow Award in the hard news category. Her winning story, which focuses on clergy sexual abuse, was published by New England Public Media.

New England Public Media wins four awards for journalist work New England Public Media wins four awards for journalist work

Happy birthday to Julia Child ’34!

Congratulations to all the SSW graduates! The Smith College School for Social Work will hold its Commencement on Aug. 16 at 4:30 p.m. in JMG.

Commencement | School for Social Work August 16, 2024, 4:30 p.m.John M. Greene Hall Commencement 2024 Schedule of EventsWednesday, August 14TimeEventLocation5-6:30 p.m.President's Reception for…

Looking for more resources for the start of the year? Here we've compiled info to help first-generation students fully acclimate to life on campus, and to enjoy all that Smith has to offer.

Smith College | For First Generation Students For First Generation Students First generation (or first-gen) students are those who are first in their families to attend a four-year college—they’re an integral and valued part of our campus community (in fact, 17% of current Smithies are first-generation college students!). Here, we’ve comp...

As a first-generation, low-income student from California, Sa’mya Wilson says she battled imposter syndrome upon first arriving at Smith. As time went on, she flourished—studying abroad, securing a Praxis internship, and so much more. Learn more about her journey and triumphs.

Sa’mya Wilson ’24 | Smith College Sa’mya Wilson ’24 What is something you wish you had known about being a first-generation student prior to arriving on campus? I wish I had taken the steps to manage my imposter syndrome earlier on in my Smith career. During my first year, I oftentimes hesitated when speaking up in class or taki...

Held at the Red Barn at Hampshire College in June, Kahn Liberal Arts Institute's three-day writing retreat offered a space for faculty and staff members to unplug and focus on various writing projects. “I haven’t seen people so happy in a long time,” says event co-organizer Suzanne Gottschang.

A Retreat into Writing Thanks to a Kahn initiative, faculty and staff were given a unique space to work quietly, together.

SURF students, including five this summer, have long been part of an ongoing effort to monitor the health of river that runs through campus. That work, led by Professor Marney Pratt, has recently led to new insights into how college effects and climate change could be impacting the local ecosystem.

No One Wants the Midges Record And Other Lessons From the River To understand Mill River water quality, SURF students take a close look at some of the smallest residents

In a The New York Times letter to the editor about Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential run, President Emerita Kathleen McCartney writes, “We need to challenge gender bias when we see it. As important, we need to celebrate the leadership styles of women.”

Opinion | Kamala Harris on Center Stage Readers discuss “White Dudes,” her laugh, her previous positions and a columnist’s mixed emotions.

“Somedays, I want nothing more to be tucked like a train into bed, hearing my parents whisper in the kitchen,” writes Nancy Jimenez Zigler, director of programs and partnerships at the Smith College Jandon Center for Community Engagement in this essay for HerStry. ”I carry tamale season in my heart.”

Tamale Weather — HerStry It’s December 1999, and the world hasn’t ended yet. The dreary weather reflects the pit of dread in my stomach, and nothing tastes right. My mother pulls down her largest pot from the top shelf of glory, and she shines it for show because today is the day.

A new state workforce development grant will give Smith students more opportunities to gain hands-on experience with complex technology before stepping into their first post-graduate positions.

State workforce grant gives Smith College’s STEM program a $555K boost NORTHAMPTON — New and improved technology is on its way to Smith College thanks to a $555,232 state Workforce Development Capital Grant that seeks to prepare more students for careers in the life sciences and other STEM fields.The college’s Clark...

"As she prepares to compete for what would be a historic win for women’s boxing in Algeria, [boxer Imane Khelif] is also fighting a misogynistic and transphobic disinformation campaign on social media," writes Prof. Ibtissam Bouachrine in this piece for VISIBLE Magazine

Cyberbullying Imane Khelif Is an Injustice To All Women by Ibtissam Bouachrine - VISIBLE Magazine “The smirk of a male who’s (sic) knows he’s protected by a misogynist sporting establishment enjoying the distress of a woman he’s just punched in the head, and whose life’s ambition he just shattered.” This was a comment from J. K. Rowling on a photo of woman boxer Imane Khelif after de...

Part two of “Women’s Clothes and the Stories They Tell” looks at the laborious undertaking of preparing the collection for its museum debut.

“We are making repairs as necessary for garments to be on view for an extended time. Fitting the mannequins to each garment is important for several reasons. First, you want to support the garment without stressing the fabric or seams so that it is not damaged while on exhibition. Second, clothing is a cultural expression in any period. You want to produce the correct silhouette so the garment properly represents its period design and meaning.”

The Smith College Historic Clothing Collection Goes on the Road Part two of this series looks at the undertaking of preparing the collection for its museum debut.

Congratulations to Professor Kelly Link, whose novel "The Book of Love," has been long-listed for The Center for Fiction's 2024 First Novel Prize.

Announcing The Center for Fiction 2024 First Novel Prize Longlist | The Center for Fiction We are pleased to announce the longlist for The Center for Fiction 2024 First Novel Prize! This year, we received 144 submitted titles with U.S. publication dates between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024. In partnership with this year’s panel of judges, over...

The Climate Champions team spoke with Smith recently to learn how higher ed can help create a healthier, more resilient, zero carbon world.

Universities leading the net zero transition - Climate Champions Smith College (Massachusetts, U.S.), Strathmore University (Nairobi, Kenya), Tecnológico de Monterrey (Monterrey, Mexico) and Western Sydney University (Sydney, Australia) are universities from across the globe with one thing in common – a commitment to decarbonize and innovate in the race to zer...