President Carol T. Christ: “Inside the Clockwork of Women’s Careers,” a Speech to the Chautauqua Institution, July 21, 2004
At the Chautauqua Institution in 2004, President Carol Christ gave a speech, “Inside the Clockwork of Women’s Careers,” arguing that both the circumstances and the narratives of women’s professional lives needed to be transformed. Nan-b de Gaspé Beaubien ’57 read the speech and decided that she wanted to fund a program that would allow Smith women to reflect on their work and life narratives. The Women’s Narratives Project was born.

Listen to President Christ's speech, "Inside the Clockwork of Women's Careers"

Dean Maureen Mahoney: “Dimensions of Balance in Women’s Lives,” a Speech to the International Conference of Women, Business and Society Madrid, Spain, April 3, 2006
Maureen Mahoney, dean of the college and director of the project, spoke about it in a speech that she gave at the 2006 International Conference of Women, Business and Society in Madrid, explaining that the project would provide women with “structured opportunities to think through the dimensions of success and balance in life.”

Dean Jennifer Walters: "Rethinking Work Life Balance and Preparing Students to Effect Change in the Workplace," a Speech to Women's College Career Development Professionals, Barnard College, New York City, May 29, 2007 (Microsoft Word document)
Jennifer Walters, dean of religious life and co-director of the project, spoke about it in a speech that she gave at a conference of Women's College Career Development Professionals, held at Barnard College in New York City. She said that the Women's Narratives Project is "inviting undergraduate students to ask themselves not only what kind of job or career do I want, but what kind of life? Furthermore, we want to challenge them to think systemically. How can we change our workplaces and institutions to make the kind of life we want possible?"

Alumnae Association of Smith College
The Alummae Association of Smith College lists volunteer, travel and learning opportunities for Smith alumnae, including the upcoming on-campus program, “Your Best Life: A Symposium on Women’s Health and Well-Being,” during which Dean Mahoney and Dean Walters will lead a workshop, “Narratives of Life’s Success” (June 22 and 23, 2007).

Women and Financial Independence
This Smith program is designed to provide undergraduates with the skills and knowledge necessary to address financial matters that may arise in their personal, professional, family and community lives.

Smith College Poetry Center
The Poetry Center connects the work of the classroom with the world of living poets.