Celebrating 13 Impactful Years at Smith

With her June 2026 retirement approaching, Beth Balmuth Raffeld, senior vice president for alumnae relations and development, reflects on her time at Smith, “More than anything, my time at Smith has been joyful,” she says. “To work with my colleagues, travel for Smith, and connect with extraordinary Smithies all over the world—it’s been a joy and an honor.”

Over the past thirteen years, Raffeld has ushered in a period of remarkable philanthropic growth for the college and deepened alum engagement globally. Under her leadership, Smith completed the historic Women for the World Campaign and received two $50+ million gifts from individual donors—the largest in Smith’s history. A highlight of Raffeld’s tenure also included fundraising for and completing the new Neilson Library.

In addition, Raffeld’s tenure saw the expansion of alum events programming as well as career support through a robust Alum Career Program and the launch of The Network, a platform that connects alums and houses the Career Hub, free LinkedIn Learning courses, and access to Smithie career coaches.

President Sarah Willie-LeBreton said she “couldn’t be more grateful for Beth’s dedicated service to Smith and to women’s education,” calling Raffeld an “exceptional presidential partner who understands the need to focus on both short- and longer-term goals.”

Raffeld is quick to applaud alums and the generosity of the community. “It's about communicating the impact that philanthropic support will have. Small gifts add up to larger pooled funds that sustain the institution and create real transformational change.”

Raffeld’s ties to higher education—and to women’s colleges—run deep. She grew up in Hamilton, New York—the daughter of a college philosophy professor at Colgate University and an English teacher—and went on to attend Mount Holyoke College, followed by graduate study at the University of Chicago. Those early experiences shaped a lifelong career in academic environments. Before her current role at Smith, Raffeld held senior advancement positions at MIT, Williams College, Harvard, and the Boston Museum of Science. Notably, Raffeld began her very early career as a major gift officer at Smith under President Mary Maples Dunn’s leadership in the early 1980s.

“I found a way to be a perpetual student; I like being around smart people,” she says. Raffeld values the Smith community’s warmth and connections.

Raffeld is looking forward to retirement so she can explore her many interests, but she plans to stay connected to Smith and pursue her love of lifelong learning. “I’m excited to have the time to attend campus lectures, recitals, theater and dance programs, and sports events!”

As Raffeld closes out her Smith tenure, she is grateful to the alum community. “Quite simply, Smith College would not be here, and would not be the college it is today, without the care and generosity of our amazing alums. Our alums care deeply about Smith and in many ways they recognize that the college’s mission is more important than ever.”