Read Smith’s UPDATED plans as of November 23, 2020,
for the spring 2021 semester.
About the Center
Our Approach
We work with community partners to critically engage with theories, data and experiences to improve interdependent aspects of community health.
We initiate, encourage, support, test and reflect on collaborative strategies and projects.

Named in memory of Jane Grossman Cecil ’50, the Jandon Center fosters opportunities for Smith students to engage actively with the community and practice responsible citizenship. Along with her husband and lifelong partner, Don, Jane was a leading philanthropist, co-founder of the Jandon Foundation (Jane + Don = Jandon), and a tireless advocate for education and champion of programs for meaningful change.
Jandon Center Team
DENYS CANDY
Director of the Jandon Center
413-585-3422
DEBORAH A. DAY
STEAM Outreach Coordinator
413-585-3932
MADELEINE DELVICARIO
Experiential Learning Coordinator
413-585-2758
ANDREA DUSTIN
Data Science Corps Coordinator
413-585-3186
BECCA JACOBSON
Community Engagement Organizer
413-585-3060
NANCY ZIGLER
Assistant Director of the Jandon Center
413-585-3253
Jandon Center Advisory Board
ELISABETH ARMSTRONG
Professor of the Study of Women & Gender; Chair of CESC Concentration
HANNAH GATES ’22
Education & Child Study Major; Kensington Young Scholars Mentorship Fellow
CLAIRE HIGGINS
Executive Director, Community Action Pioneer Valley
BEVERLY LIPSEY ’18
SC Community Engagement and Social Change alumna; Fulbright English Teaching Assistant, Malaysia /p>
DENISSE MANSO GONZALEZ ’22
Latin American Studies Major; Recruitment Outreach Intern
MAEVE MCCURDY ’21
Anthropology Major, Climate Change Concentrator; Jandon Center Fellow
ELVIS MENDEZ
Organizing Director, Neighbor to Neighbor MA
SHEENA NOMURA ’23
Community Engagement and Social Change Concentrator
VANESSA PABÓN-HERNANDEZ
Executive Producer, Presencia (WGNY/PBS)
FARAH SAMAWI ’19
Smith College Community Engagement and Social Change Alumna ’19; Research Coordinator, CHA Center for Mindfulness and Compassion
Jandon Affiliate Programs
The Jandon Center and its affiliate programs, such as the Urban Education Initiative, share a common mission. Affiliate programs are substantially directed by faculty or staff outside the Jandon Center. Our affiliate programs provide opportunities for Smith students to transfer what they are learning in the classroom to real-world experiences alongside mentors—many of whom are Smith alumnae—in schools and other educational settings.
ERIN DECOU
Co-Coordinator Urban Education
413-585-2793
VANESSA OTERO
Director Urban Education Initiative