Skip to main content

Town Hall Listening Session

November 19, 2015

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff:

As you know, we will have a town hall listening session on Monday at 4:30 p.m., which will be hosted by Chief Diversity Officer Dwight Hamilton, Director of Multicultural Affairs L’Tanya Richmond, and me. We are moving the venue to John M. Greene Hall to accommodate students as well as faculty and staff.

While in Asia, I have been watching student activists lead powerful work at the University of Missouri, Yale University and Amherst College, among others. I was proud to hear from my team on campus that Smith students had organized a sit-in to demonstrate their solidarity with students at other campuses. Today, I have learned that in addition to your support, some of you are organizing to lead change at Smith. I want you to know that I look forward to continuing our work with this listening session.

I have found it difficult to be away while so much is happening on campus. A major focus of my time abroad has been raising support for Smith, and I have had a productive trip where I have met with alumnae and students in Hong Kong, Kyoto, Tokyo and Seoul. I look forward to coming home as well as to the necessary work that lies ahead.

Best,

Kathy