Embedded in the mission of Smith College to educate women of promise for lives of distinction and purpose is our commitment to develop engaged global citizens and leaders to address society’s challenges. This mission is only as strong as our civic commitment to democratic inclusion and the variety of voices required for its success.

- Sarah Willie-LeBreton
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Activation Plan

Below is an overview of some campus activities: 

  • Generating Justice and Joy — Center for Religious and Spiritual Life
    Smith College’s Center for Religious and Spiritual Life hosts Generating Justice and Joy, a program that brings students together across faith traditions and backgrounds to explore the intersections of spiritual life, social justice, and civic responsibility. The program creates a structured space for reflection and dialogue on questions of shared concern.
  • Lead Scholars Program — Wurtele Center for Leadership
    Smith College’s Wurtele Center for Leadership offers a seven-week cohort-based course for Lead Scholars that builds civic and leadership capacity through a social justice lens. Students examine systems of power and inequality while developing the practical skills and relational habits needed for engaged, effective leadership within and beyond the Smith College community.
  • Community Engagement Education Initiative — Jandon Center
    Smith College’s Jandon Center for Community Engagement connects students with local organizations and community partners in Northampton and the Pioneer Valley. Through its Education Initiative, students engage in direct service and structured reflection, developing their understanding of civic life and their responsibilities as members of a broader public.
  • Jean Picker Semester-in-Washington Program — Government Department
    Smith College’s Jean Picker Semester-in-Washington Program places Smith students in the nation’s capital for a semester of immersive civic and political engagement. Students intern with government agencies, NGOs, policy organizations, and advocacy groups while completing academic coursework, gaining firsthand experience of democratic institutions and public life. 
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Sarah Willie-LeBreton
President, Smith College
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Below is an overview of some campus activities: 

  • Generating Justice and Joy — Center for Religious and Spiritual Life
    Smith College’s Center for Religious and Spiritual Life hosts Generating Justice and Joy, a program that brings students together across faith traditions and backgrounds to explore the intersections of spiritual life, social justice, and civic responsibility. The program creates a structured space for reflection and dialogue on questions of shared concern.
  • Lead Scholars Program — Wurtele Center for Leadership
    Smith College’s Wurtele Center for Leadership offers a seven-week cohort-based course for Lead Scholars that builds civic and leadership capacity through a social justice lens. Students examine systems of power and inequality while developing the practical skills and relational habits needed for engaged, effective leadership within and beyond the Smith College community.
  • Community Engagement Education Initiative — Jandon Center
    Smith College’s Jandon Center for Community Engagement connects students with local organizations and community partners in Northampton and the Pioneer Valley. Through its Education Initiative, students engage in direct service and structured reflection, developing their understanding of civic life and their responsibilities as members of a broader public.
  • Jean Picker Semester-in-Washington Program — Government Department
    Smith College’s Jean Picker Semester-in-Washington Program places Smith students in the nation’s capital for a semester of immersive civic and political engagement. Students intern with government agencies, NGOs, policy organizations, and advocacy groups while completing academic coursework, gaining firsthand experience of democratic institutions and public life. 

Embedded in the mission of Smith College to educate women of promise for lives of distinction and purpose is our commitment to develop engaged global citizens and leaders to address society’s challenges. This mission is only as strong as our civic commitment to democratic inclusion and the variety of voices required for its success.

- Sarah Willie-LeBreton