Governance & Committees
The provost and dean of the faculty partners closely with faculty leaders in keeping with Smith’s long and vibrant history of faculty governance. Elected and appointed committees work with the provost, associate provost and the associate dean of the faculty to foster excellence in teaching, learning and scholarship.
Code of Faculty Governance
The governance of Smith College is an enterprise shared among the Board of Trustees, the faculty, the administration, the students and the staff of the college. As an integral part of that shared governance, the rights and responsibilities of the faculty as granted by the Board of Trustees are described in this Code of Faculty Governance, in the Policy of Appointment, Reappointment Promotion and Tenure, and in the Rules of the Faculty. Moreover, the Board recognizes that the right of academic freedom, as it is set out in the Statement of Academic Freedom and Freedom of Expression, is critical to the educational mission of the college.
Faculty Meetings
The faculty meets monthly during the academic year to conduct legislative, informational and consultative work consistent with its duties as specified in the Faculty Code and trustee by-laws. Faculty meetings sustain a culture of collegial self-governance, conducted according to Robert's Rules. Faculty Council, the principal committee of the faculty, holds regular open meetings for more informal conversation about current issues.
For faculty meeting materials, please contact Kayla Cheneba.
NOTE: Tote lunches will be provided at all meetings, AY24 meeting times will continue to be held on Mondays during the lunch hour.
| Date | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| September 11, 2023 | 12:15–1:30 p.m | Campus Center Carroll Room |
| October 2, 2023 | 12:15–1:30 p.m | Campus Center Carroll Room |
| October 30, 2023 | 12:15–1:30 p.m | Campus Center Carroll Room |
| November 20, 2023 | 12:15–1:30 p.m | Campus Center Carroll Room |
| December 11, 2023 | 12:15–1:30 p.m | Campus Center Carroll Room |
| February 12, 2024 | 12:15–1:30 p.m | Campus Center Carroll Room |
| March 11, 2024 | 12:15–1:30 p.m | Campus Center Carroll Room |
| April 1, 2024 | 12:15–1:30 p.m | Campus Center Carroll Room |
| April 15, 2024 | 12:15–1:30 p.m | Campus Center Carroll Room |
| May 16, 2024 | 10:30–11:45 a.m. | Sage Hall, Sweeney Concert Hall |
| May 16 Retirement Luncheon | noon–2 p.m. | Campus Center Carroll Room |
Traditionally the last Faculty Meeting of the year is preceded by continental breakfast 9:30 and followed by the annual celebration for retiring Faculty.
Bramwell, Joan 2020.10.28 (extended version)
Video of the reading for Marylin Martin Rhie may also be viewed HERE
Elected Committees 2023-24
- Maleka Donaldson (2026)
- Nicholas Howe (2024)
- Reyes Lázaro (2026)
- Michael Thurston, Provost and Dean of the Faculty, Chair, non-voting
- Denise McKahn, Associate Provost, non-voting
- Hélène Visentin, Associate Dean of the Faculty & Dean for Academic Development, non-voting
- Alex Keller, Interim Dean of the College, non-voting
- Gretchen Herringer, Registrar, non-voting
- Tina Wildhagen, Faculty Council Representative, non-voting
- Jeffrey Ahlman (2025)
- Ibtissam Bouachrine (2025)
- Mlada Bukovansky (2025)
- Katwiwa Mule (2026)
- Lauren Duncan (2025)
- Samantha Earp, Vice President for Information Technology, Co-Chair
- Denise McKahn, Associate Provost and Dean for Academic Development, Co-Chair
- Tony Caldanaro, Program Director of the Center for Science and Engineering Computing
- Steve Waksman, Faculty Council Representative
- Erin Pineda (2026)
- Kevin Shea (2026)
- Atsuko Takahashi (2026)
- Denise McKahn, Associate Provost, Chair, non-voting
- Joshua Parad, Senior Academic Budget Manager, non-voting
- Will Raven, Faculty Council Representative, non-voting
- Joshua Birk (2025)
- Maren Buck (2026)
- Elizabeth Pryor (2026)
- Susan Sayre (2024)
- Darcy Buerkle, Chair (2024)
- Nathan Derr (2025)
- Steve Waksman (2024)
- Will Raven (2025)
- Tina Wildhagen (2024)
- Ernest Benz (2026)
- Terry-Ann Craigie (2026)
- Jordan Crouser (2026)
- Patricia DiBartolo (2024)
- Susan Voss (2026)
- Alternates for 2023-24: Patricia Cahn, Luca Capogna, Glen Ellis
- Jennifer DeClue, Chair (2026)
- Elizabeth Jamieson (2026)
- Marguerite Harrison (2025)
- Laura Katz (2024)
- Vis Taraz (2024)
- Laura Kim '24, Student Events Committee Representative, non-voting
- Craig Davis (2024)
- Jessica Moyer (2024)
- Anna Mwaba (2024)
- Sara Newland (2026)
- Andrew Berke (2026)
Non-voting:
- Student representatives (tbd)
- Susan Fliss, Dean of Libraries
- Michael Thurston, Provost and Dean of the Faculty
- Sarah Willie-LeBreton, President, Chair
- Michael Thurston, Provost and Dean of the Faculty, Vice Chair
- David DeSwert, Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration
- Darcy Buerkle, Chair of Faculty Council
- Nathan Derr, Faculty Council Representative
- Susannah Howe, Faculty Division III (2026)
- Leslie King, Faculty Division II (2025)
- Susan Levin, Faculty Division I (2024)
- Sheher-Bano Ahmed '24, student elected annually by the student body
- Emma Suryan '26, student elected annually by the student body
- Fraser Stables, Associate Dean for Integrative Learning
- Joanna Olin, Chief of Staff and Senior Adviser to the President
- Alex Keller, Interim Dean of the College and Vice President for Campus Life
- Floyd Cheung, Vice President for Equity and Inclusion
- Amanda López, Staff representative
- Anna Goudreau, Staff representative
- Sarah Willie-LeBreton, President, Chair
- Michael Thurston, Provost and Dean of the Faculty
- Marnie Anderson (2026)
- Carrie Baker (2025)
- Aaron Kamugisha (2026)
- Kate Queeney (2025)
- Christine White-Ziegler (2026)
Appointed Committees
-
Evelyn Berry ‘25, Chair
-
Delia Haston ‘25, Secretary
-
Ingrid Trapp ‘26, Vice Secretary
-
Marta Almazovaite ‘24, Senior Class Representative
-
Xinyun Guo ‘25, Junior Class Representative
-
Adela Hoffman ‘26, Sophomore Class Representative
-
Shannon Metterville AC, Ada Class Representative
-
Vera Shevzov (Division I)
-
Cristina Valencia Mazzanti (Division II)
-
Maren Buck (Division III)
-
Adela Penagos, Associate Dean of the College
-
Alex Keller, Interim Dean of the College, ex-officio
- Alex Keller, Interim Vice President for Campus Life and Dean of the College (Chair)
- Adela Penagos, Dean of the Senior Class and Associate Dean of the College
- Tom Riddell, Interim Dean of the Junior Class
- Andrea Rossi-Reder, Dean of the Sophomore Class and Ada Comstock Scholars
- Jennifer Joyce, Dean of the First-Year Class
- Gretchen Herringer, Registrar
- María Helena Rueda (Interim) (Div. I, 2023-24)
- Terry-Ann Craigie (Div. II) (2023)
- Cristina Suarez (Interim) (Div. III, 2023-24)
- Sarah Willie-LeBreton, President (co-chair)
- David DeSwert, Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration (co-chair)
- Michael Thurston, Provost & Dean of the Faculty
- Denise McKahn, Associate Provost
- Alex Keller, Interim Vice President for Campus Life and Dean of the College
- TBA, Associate Vice President for Finance
- Joanna May, Vice President for Enrollment
- Erin Cohn, Director of the Wurtele Center for Leadership
- Kelly-Jean Huard, Associate Director of Systems and Networking, Staff Council
- Darcy Buerkle, Chair of Faculty Council
- Will Raven, Faculty Council
- Steve Waksman, Faculty Council
- Nathan Derr, Faculty Council
- Tina Wildhagen, Faculty Council
- Leela de Paula, President of the Student Government Association (2023)
- Joanna May, Vice President for Enrollment, Chair
- Deanna Dixon, Dean of Admission
- Adela Penagos, Associate Dean of the College
- Mehammed Mack, French Studies, (Div. I) (2025)
- Timothy Recuber, Sociology, (Div. II) (2023)
- Lesley-Ann Giddings, Chemistry, (Div. III) (2025)
- Tracy Okai '24, Student Representative (2024)
- David DeSwert, Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration, Chair
- Sarah Willie-LeBreton, President
- Alex Keller, Interim Dean of the College
- Tim Johnson, Director, Botanic Garden
- Denise McKahn, Associate Provost
- Jesse Bellemare, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences
- Bozena Wellborne, Assistant Professor of Government
- Lucy Mule, Professor of Education and Child Study
- Mary Giles, Associate Director of Advancement Communications
- Beth Hooker, Director of Sustainability & Administrative Director of CEEDS
- Nat Fortune, Professor of Physics
- Reid Bertone-Johnson, Core Lecturer of Landscape Studies
- Vacant, Director of Campus Sustainability and Space Planning
- Byan Wilkinson, Associate Vice President for Finance
- Kate Queeney, Chair and Faculty Representative
- Chris Aiken, Faculty Representative
- Ibtissam Bouachrine, Faculty Representative
- Lauren Duncan, Faculty Representative
- Melissa Parrish, Faculty Representative
- Will Raven, Faculty Representative
- Kristin Hughes, Director of Athletics, ex officio
- Jessica Duff, Associate Athletic Director, ex officio
- Kris Evans, Director, Schacht Center, Health Services, ex officio
- Lynn Hersey, Head Coach Representative
- Barbara Brehm-Curtis, Chair, Exercise and Sports Studies (spring), non-voting
- Sarah Witkowski, Chair, Exercise and Sport Studies (fall), non-voting
- Rebecca Shaw, Associate Dean of Students/Director of Residential Lide, non-voting
- Colin Hoag, Anthropology is (2026)
- Albert Kim, Computer Science (2026)
- Joel Westerdale, German and Italian (Smith Programs Rep, 2026)
- Howard Gold, Government (sabbatical replacement for Pinky Hota, term ends in 2024)
- Maria Rueda, Spanish and Portuguese (sabbatical replacement for Justin Cammy, term ends in 2024)
- Ibtissam Bouachrine, Spanish (CAP Rep 2023-2024, ex-officio)
- Fraser Stables, Associate Dean of Integrated Learning, non-voting, ex-officio
- Lisa Johnson, Associate Dean of International Studies, (co-Chair) non-voting, ex-officio
- Denise McKahn, Associate Provost (Chair), non-voting, ex-officio
-
Joshua Parad, Senior Academic Budget Manager, non-voting, ex-officio
- Nancy Mason Bradbury, Professor Emerita of English Language & Literature
- Barbara Brehm-Curtis, Professor of Exercise and Sport Studies
- John Connolly, Sophia Smith Professor Emeritus of Philosophy
- Marjorie Senechal, Louise Wolff Kahn Professor Emerita in Mathematics and History of Science & Technology
- Janie Vanpée, Professor Emerita of French Studies
- Hélène Visentin, Chair, Associate Dean of the Faculty/Dean for Academic Development
- Mary Harrington, Co-Chair
- Jeffry Ramsey, Co-Chair
- Michael Barresi, Scientist
- Suzanne Gottschang, Scientist
- Misty Williams-Fritze, DVM, Attending Veterinarian
- Rochelle Pleet, Non-Affiliated Community Member, Non-Scientist
- Elizabeth Jamieson, Chemistry, Head Marshal
- Nicholas Howe, Computer Science
- Susannah Howe, Engineering
- Brent Durbin, Government
- Jack Loveless, Geosciences
- Patricia Cahn, Mathematical Sciences
- William Raven, Physics
- Stephanie Jones, Exercise and Sports Studies
- Randi Garcia, Statistical and Data Sciences & Psychology
- Joyce Palmer-Fortune, Physics