Engineering Students Develop Tools for Teaching

Students in Engineering 270, Continuum Mechanics I, worked in small groups to produce short educational videos on how materials behave when subjected
to loading. The videos that EGR270 students produce will be part of a video podcast that K-12 teachers can use to help teach engineering in their courses.

2008 Sherrerd Prize Recipients

Three faculty members were recently named winners of the Kathleen Compton Sherrerd '54 and John J. F. Sherrerd Prize for Distinguished Teaching. They are: Randall Bartlett, professor of economics; John Brady, the Mary Elizabeth Moses Professor of Geology; and Patricia DiBartolo, professor of psychology.

Expert Interviews: The "Endless Campaign"

Smith Professor of Government Howard Gold, a frequent commentator in the media on U.S. elections and voting behavior, offers insight into Election 2008. Gold comments on the polls, independents and what has become an "endless campaign." (4 minutes)
Watch it on YouTube

Watch this in HD!

Opening Convocation Kicks Off New Year

President Carol Christ welcomed students and faculty back to Smith for the 2008-09 academic year at a rousing Opening Convocation on Wednesday, September 3, along with faculty speaker Jay Garfield, philosophy, and Class of 2009 President Marlowe Dieckmann. (10 minutes). Watch it on YouTube.

Smith Students Dive Into Educators' Role

Though the children of Belize know of the money tourism generates for their families, few know how critical it is to preserve their island's pristine coral reef.
Thanks to Smith's Coral Reef Ed-Ventures Team, that is changing. (5 minutes)

Combat Stress Conference Keynote

At the recent "Combat Stress" conference, Jonathan Shay, author of the widely acclaimed "Achilles in Vietnam" and psychiatrist with the Department of Veterans Affairs, argued for removing the word "disorder" from PTSD because of the stigma the word has for veterans.

Commencement Address 2008

Award-winning playwright Margaret Edson, a Smith College alumna who teaches kindergarten in the Atlanta public school system, was the speaker at Smith's 130th commencement ceremony Sunday, May 18. The speech was delivered without a written text. (18:30)

Alternate video format available here.

Ivy Day Parade Highlights

On the day before commencement, alumnae escort the seniors in a parade around campus. Then the seniors plant ivy to symbolize the connection between the college and its graduates. (4:30)

Alternate video format available here.

Ivy Day 2008 Speech: Kasmin Holt '08

Ivy Day has been a tradition at Smith for more than a century. The class of 1884 was the first to plant ivy as part of the ceremonies leading to their graduation, thus providing the day with its name. Each year a student speaker is invited to share words of appreciation for the alumnae.

Backpack to Briefcase Highlights

Randy Bartlett, professor of economics, imparts some words of financial widom to Smith seniors. The Women and Financial Independence Program at Smith College is designed to provide women with the skills and knowledge necessary to address financial matters that may arise in their personal, professional, family and community lives. (6:09)

Sylvia Plath 75th Year Symposium

Sylvia Plath’s Smith College roommate and friends spoke about their memories of the late poet during a symposium April 25 and 26. Through a combination of talks from both scholars and friends, students and admirers of Plath’s poetry, conference participants considered Plath both academically and personally, celebrating the 75th birthday of one of Smith’s great alumnae. (5:30)

Alternate video format available here.

Doing the News in the Age of New Media

On April 10, the Friends of the Libraries hosted a discussion about the challenges and opportunities facing the business of news reporting. The panel was moderated by Judith Milestone '66, Smith trustee and long-time CNN executive, and featured Susan Greene '68, cable television expert; Stacy Teicher Khadaroo '93, Christian Science Monitor journalist; Laurel Touby '85, founder of mediabistro.com; and Ellen Weiss '81, vice president for news, National Public Radio. (44 minutes)

Celebrating Collaborations 2008

Exciting student-faculty collaborations unfold on our campus every day. Smith's annual showcase of student research and performance highlights students' intellectual achievements and collaborative efforts with faculty in a variety of departmental, program and interdisciplinary projects. (4:28)

Out of the Sky: 9/11 by Werner Pfeiffer

At an opening reception for an exhibition of his artist books, Werner Pfeiffer assembled Out of the Sky: 9/11, his tribute to the victims of the destruction of the World Trade Center in 2001. This book, with a prominent sculptural component, engages the reader/viewer as he or she assembles a series of printed segments to construct a model of the twin towers nearly 6 feet high. The exhibit in the Neilson Library Book Arts Gallery continues through July 2008. (17:30)

Smith College Democrats and Republicans

With the presidential primaries capturing the attention of the media and the nation, it seems an appropriate time to hear about political activity here at Smith. Hear from seniors Samantha Lewis from Springfield, Massachusetts, president of the Smith Republicans, and Sidnie Davis from Concord, California, president of the Smith Democrats. They discuss political interest on campus, their organizations' activities, and their own personal political aspirations.

Professor Eric Reeves Receives Honorary Degree

Perspectives on the Darfur Genocide
Eric Reeves, Smith professor of English language and literature and human rights advocate, received an honorary degree from Smith College on March 6, 2008. A panel discussion moderated by Reeves, titled “Perspectives on the Darfur Genocide,” followed the awarding of the degree. (4:23)

Interview with Professor Eric Reeves

Eric Reeves, Smith professor of English language and literature and human rights advocate, received an honorary degree from Smith College on March 6, 2008. A more detailed interview was conducted with him before the event. (6:00)

Sol LeWitt Installation at the Museum of Art

Wall Drawing #139 (Grid and arcs from the midpoints of four sides)
In 2000, when the Smith College Museum of Art had closed for a major renovation and expansion, an anonymous donor from the class of 1947 gave the museum Sol LeWitt’s Wall Drawing #139 (Grid and arcs from the midpoints of four sides) (1972). This important early wall drawing, which is executed in black pencil, was installed at the museum in January 2008.

Circadian Rhythms and Sleep Deprivation

Interview with Mary Harrington, Smith College Tippit Professor in the Life Sciences
Sleep deprivation is a common occurrence in modern day society and affects millions of people. Disturbances in our normal sleep patterns can result in serious health problems. Harrington discusses the detrimental effects of disruptions to circadian rhythms, and addresses how her studies in chronotherapy might benefit cancer patients.

Women, Writing and Mental Illness: From Freud to fMRI

Interview with Michele Wick, Instructor in the Smith College Department of Psychology
For years, researchers have attempted to confirm the belief that genius is allied to madness. Scholars studying the lives of unusually creative people have discovered that the number of individuals with severe psychiatric illness is unexpectedly high. Michele Wick is exploring the relationship between creativity and mental illness in a research project.

Women and Financial Independence: Financing Life

The Basics of Investing, Presented by Randall Bartlett, Professor of Economics at Smith College
Successfully financing a life will almost always involve carrying some resources forward in time to provide for future needs -- for retirement, for emergencies, for tuitions and braces, for vacations, or to donate to Smith. Once a decision to save has been reached, there is the added question, “In what assets should the savings be held?”

Vistas: Colonial Latin American Visual Culture, 1520-1820

Interview with Dana Leibsohn, Professor of Art, Smith College and co-director of the Vistas project
The Vistas project seeks to bring an understanding of the visual culture of Spanish America to a broad audience. Spanish America was an extensive region covering much of the Americas, running from California to Chile from the 16th century to the early 19th century.

Basketball: Wellesley at Smith

February 23, 2008
In a game played with a lot of heart and pride, Smith College' Pioneers took on England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) rival Wellesley College in their last home game of the 2007-08 season. Watch the webcast from Ainsworth Gym, hosted by D3Cast.com. (Microsoft Silverlight required for video.)

Glenn Ellis, U.S. Professor of the Year

Acceptance Speech delivered on November 15, 2007 in Washington, D.C.
Glenn W. Ellis, associate professor of engineering at Smith College, was recently honored with a Professor of the Year Award from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) -- the only national award for excellence in undergraduate teaching and mentoring.

Poetry All Around at Smith

Poetry filled the air at Smith on December 11, 2008, as students recited verses from atop soapboxes at well-traveled locations around central campus as classes changed throughout the day. The event, was part of the 10th anniversary celebration of the Poetry Center at Smith.

Wisdom, Compassion, Peace: The Dalai Lama

Smith College welcomed the 14th Dalai Lama to the Pioneer Valley on Wednesday, May 9, 2007. The Dalai Lama delivered a talk to thousands of students, faculty, staff and invited guests from the two colleges and the Tibetan community.