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Notable Alumnae

Notable Alumnae

Famous chefs, Pulitzer Prize winners, political columnists, environmental researchers, film directors, venture capitalists, physicists, poets, playwrights, CEOs—Smith women apply their learning throughout their lives in thousands of professions and communities.

Try our guessing game of Smith alumnae “firsts,” experience the scope of accomplishments by browsing the database, and nominate other alumnae for inclusion in an ever-expanding group of Notable Alumnae.

First woman mayor of Cambridge, MA_ First woman editor of New York Times business section_ First woman partner in New York City's largest law firm_ First woman director in the office of the UN High Commission_ First woman on California State Board of Health_ First woman chair of Consumer Product Safety Commission_ First Ladies of the United States_ First woman to fly a jet plane_ First black woman district attorney in NYC_ First woman to receive a medical degree summa cum laude from Harvard_ First woman president of Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association_ First woman appointed to the US Foreign Service_ First woman officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of NYC_ First woman president of American Society of Newspaper Editors_First mayor of Greenfield, MA_ First woman chair of a department (sociology) at UPenn_ First woman to be awarded the Barbour Air Safety Award_ First woman judge in Maine_ First woman president of United Scenic Artists_ First inspector general of the US Department of Labor_ First Hispanic woman appointed to Massachusetts Superior Court_ First woman dean of the college at Princeton_First woman member of board of directors of US Export-Import Bank_First woman to row the Atlantic alone_ First woman physician in Kenya_ First woman ordained an Episcopal priest in Diocese of Central PA_ First woman to be elected a New York State Justice_ First woman elected to the National Academy of Sciences_ First woman network television sports producer_ First woman dean of an American theological school (Vanderbilt)_ First woman to chair White House Council of Economic Advisers_ First woman doctor on staff at New York Hospital in Manhattan_ First woman to climb Mt. McKinley

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Laura and Karen Swymer

For many alumnae, a Smith education is part of their family tradition. For the Swymers, Smith became a home away from home for the entire family. In what grew to be a treasured ritual, each fall George and Beverly Swymer drove their daughters to campus until all four received their degrees. Christine ’90, Karen ’91, Laura ’94 and Emily ’96 all thrived at Smith and made their parents proud.

Sadly, since graduation two of the sisters have been lost. In October 2001, Laura Swymer Clancy died suddenly while competing in the Baltimore Marathon. Six months later, Karen Swymer Shanahan’s long battle with cancer ended. The tragic loss of these vibrant young women continues to be felt by the Smith community.

In a moving gesture, family and friends have chosen to memorialize Karen and Laura by generously establishing an endowed scholarship fund in their names. For generations to come, Karen and Laura’s legacy will directly impact and enrich the lives of deserving Smith students. How fitting that the Swymer sisters zest for life will be celebrated as well as honored here at Smith, their second home.

 

 

 
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