2026 Spring Semester Welcome

Dear Friends,

Welcome back to Smith and to the start of a new semester! In addition to snow, January often brings a sense of renewal—an invitation to recommit to one another and the values that define our community. I hope you’ll continue to find moments to connect with fellow students, co-workers, and colleagues.

For many of us, the feeling of renewal is tempered by the near quotidian expressions of violence within our own country and around the world. These situations remind us, with painful clarity, that we can take neither democracy nor safety for granted. I want to acknowledge that anxiety and anger are reasonable reactions in times like this. I also know that we have within our power the ability to nurture calmness. At Smith, doing the work of teaching and learning is our mission. But we must also set aside time to pause, come together, mourn, and remember.

Everyone on campus is invited to attend a vigil on Chapin lawn on Thursday, January 29, at 5:45 p.m. for all of the victims of violence. Following the vigil, members of the campus community are invited to a Generating Justice and Joy event to reflect on incidents of violence at 6:30 p.m. in Helen Hills Hills Chapel, sponsored by the Center for Religious and Spiritual Life. We may not all agree on how to respond to this moment, but if we can comfort each other in grief, stand with those who suffer, and insist on our shared humanity, we lead the world.

The well-being of all of our students, faculty, and staff is our priority, and we continue to move forward with a number of enhanced safety measures. As mentioned in past community meetings, the college will begin implementing recommendations from our security assessment project in the coming months. Most notably, improvements to security technology equipment are underway in a number of buildings, and we will transition to access via OneCards over time. More details will be shared as implementation begins.

As winter turns to spring, we will make space for joy. In February, we’ll mark Rally Day—one of Smith’s most cherished traditions—during which we’ll recognize the remarkable achievements and contributions of four alums: health care advocate Wendy Brown Dean ’87, journalist and educator Lori Tharps ’94, neuroscientist and children’s book author Theanne Griffith ’08, and conductor Elim Chan ’09. Their lives and work—each rooted in creativity, leadership, and a commitment to a more just world—remind us that what begins here at Smith extends far beyond our campus and helps shape communities and lives everywhere.

Rally Day also begins the countdown to Commencement and is the first time that the great class of 2026 will don their graduation robes—along with some highly inventive and very funny hats! To our seniors: Savor these months. The memories you make here will last a lifetime. We look forward to celebrating you and all you’ve accomplished on May 17.

So, let’s look ahead, with a shared purpose, guided by our bold new strategic plan, Compass 2035. This road map reaffirms Smith’s mission to foster intellectual curiosity and rigor, inclusive leadership, empathy for one another and the world, and a commitment to sustainability and well-being. We’ll celebrate the vision and possibilities that exist within Compass 2035 at a gratitude event and launch on March 3, during our regular First Tuesdays gathering. I look forward to recognizing the dedication, thoughtfulness, and creativity that informed this collective work. Thank you, everyone, for the many ways you contribute to life at Smith. I am so grateful for each of you and for this community.

Sincerely,

Sarah Willie-LeBreton
President, Smith College