Students Share Real-World Challenges at 10th Annual Smith in the World Conference

Not many undergraduates have had the chance to perform prenatal ultrasounds in post-earthquake Nepal. Few can say they’ve just come back from studying disaster preparedness on fault lines in New Zealand.

Smith students have had these and many more real-world learning experiences that they cannot wait to share with the campus community. The sharing will take place at the annual Smith in the World conference to be held Thursday, Nov. 5., from 3:45 to 6 p.m. in the Campus Center.

Smith aims to prepare its students to leave lecture halls and start using their knowledge and compassion to make an impact in the world. This is no small challenge. Learning about possible solutions to the world’s complex problems in class is one thing. Trying to accomplish them in the real world is something else entirely.

Through Praxis program internships, study abroad and community service experiences, Smith students gain confidence in their ability to make positive changes in the world. The Smith in the World conference will feature presentations by students about those varied learning encounters.

The conference was established a decade ago as a way for students to share the newfound confidence they discovered while learning off campus. This year, 50 students nominated by faculty members will have a chance to tell their stories.

Panels will feature students who have expanded their knowledge in their field of interest and pushed the boundaries of their comfort zones. From volunteering in a hospital in Argentina, to working at a theater company in China, their experiences exemplify what it means to be “women for the world.”

The conference will begin with a reception in the Campus Center from 3:45 to 4:30 p.m., followed by two student presentation sessions divided into panels based on overarching themes.

The first session, from 4:30 to 5:10 p.m., will include panels on Climate Change & Sustainable Food,” “HIV Research & Advocacy” and “The Power of Liberal Arts.” The second session, from 5:20 to 6 p.m., will cover “Business/Marketing/Entrepreneurship,” “Arts & Museums,” “Education” and “Nonprofits & NGOs.

Stacie Hagenbaugh, director of the Lazarus Center for Career Development—which co-sponsors the annual conference—says Smith in the World “is a vibrant celebration of the exceptional work and achievements of students when they leave campus” for study abroad or other experiences.

The gathering “allows students to share the impact these experiences have had on them, and how they significantly contribute to their liberal arts education,” Hagenbaugh says.

Smith in the World is co-sponsored by the Office of the Dean of the College and the Committee on Academic Priorities.

A complete conference schedule and event abstracts are available at the Smith in the World page.