Flag Lowering Policy
In the event of a death in the Smith community, the flag at College Hall will be lowered for
- Current faculty, staff and students
- Current and former trustees
- Faculty and administrators with emerita/us status
- Staff members who served the college for 25 years or more
The flag may be lowered for other national or state occasions as well.
“Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People”
A message from President Kathleen McCartney
As I wrote to the community in early September, “Our most consequential commitment as a community is to continue our sustained work to build a just and inclusive campus.” Throughout this year we will work together to educate ourselves and to advance this commitment.
As part of this process of community education I am pleased to announce that Harvard psychology professor Mahzarin Banaji will present a three-hour workshop on implicit bias to the Smith community on Friday, October 28 from 2-5 p.m. in Sweeney Concert Hall. She is the author of Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People, and leads trainings around the world on how to counteract prejudices – our own and those of others.
This is a rare opportunity for our community. Professor Banaji has presented this workshop for universities, corporations and organizations around the world. Seating in Sweeney is limited, and is intended for Smith students, staff and faculty only.
In order to ensure we can accommodate everyone who wants to attend, online registration is required by Friday, October 21.
I look forward to learning and working with you at the workshop on October 28.
Sincerely,
Kathleen McCartney
President
June 2, 2018
Dear students, staff and faculty:
Late yesterday, President Emerita Jill Ker Conway, a renowned historian and author who served as Smith College’s president from 1975 to 1985, passed away at the age of 83. A visionary leader whose work had centered on women’s history, Jill focused her presidency on conceiving and launching new opportunities for women, through such initiatives as the Ada Comstock Scholars Program, the Smith Management Program (now Smith Executive Education), and significant investments in career development and athletics. Her autobiography, told in three volumes—The Road From Coorain, True North and A Woman’s Education—recounts the intellectual journey of the first woman to serve as Smith's president. Her other books included Women Reformers and American Culture.
On a personal note, Jill was a generous friend to me and one of the first to reach out when I was appointed to the Smith presidency. She was gracious with her wisdom and advice about the unique community I was about to join. She reminded me of the legacy with which I had been entrusted, and about the power of Smith as a place where students have permission to be curious and to proudly express, as she once said, their “intellectual bravado.”
Jill was a true champion of women everywhere. I invite you to read this remembrance and offer your own memories in the comments.
The flag at College Hall will be lowered to half staff in Jill’s memory on Monday, June 4. Funeral services will be held at St. Mark’s Church, Conway, Mass., on Saturday, June 9. A memorial will be held on campus later this year.
Sincerely,
Kathleen McCartney
President