Congresswoman Jane Lakes Harman '66 will deliver Commencement address
 
U.S. Representative Jane Lakes Harman, a leading Congressional expert on terrorism and security issues, will be the speaker at Smith's 128th Commencement ceremony, scheduled for May 21 at 10 a.m. First elected to Congress in 1992, Harman is currently serving her fifth term as representative of the Southern California district that is home to the country's leading defense contractors. An attorney and an elected official, Harman is a fierce advocate of fiscal responsibility and of opportunity for working families. Harman's involvement in the nation's intelligence issues began before September 11, 2001, when she served on the National Commission on Terrorism. Following the terrorist attacks, she co-wrote a House report examining intelligence failures leading to that tragedy and served on the Committee on Homeland Security. Harman is now the ranking Democrat on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. During the ceremony, the following women will receive honorary degrees: Jewel Plummer Cobb, scientist, educator, and administrator; Paula Deitz '59, New York literary magazine editor; Ruth Lounsbury Ozeki '80, filmmaker and author; and Jody Williams, activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner. For more information about the honorees, visit http://www.smith.edu/newsoffice/releases/05-047.html.
 
  Bringing understanding of American law to China
  In February, Suzanne King Nusbaum '69, a retired Massachusetts Industrial Accident Reviewing Board judge, presided at the Chinese National Rounds of the 2006 Jessup Competition, an international law student moot court, held at Remnin University in Beijing, China. During the event, students from twenty-four universities around China worked in teams to prepare written and oral arguments in English for a hypothetical case brought before the International Court of Justice. This year's moot court problem dealt with issues of violations of international treaties and custom, including issues of forced labor. "The ability of the Chinese students to master and argue this complex international law problem in English was impressive," Nusbaum said. "Some students even relied on the U.S. Constitution as precedent in their oral arguments. They seemed eager to learn more about American law." At Smith, Nusbaum studied Chinese history and took a year of Chinese language. In 1999, she served on the Women in Law and Politics, People to People Ambassadors' Delegation to China. The top three Chinese teams from this year's competition will go on to participate in the international round of the Jessup International Moot Court Competition in Washington, D.C. in April.
 
  Smith's annual bulb show live on the Web
  A live Webcam allows off-campus viewing of this year's spring bulb show at the Lyman Plant House. The show attracts thousands of visitors each year to enjoy the sight and scent of old favorites and new hybrid bulbs. For a live look, visit http://www.smith.edu/garden/Home/web_cam.html.
 
  Socially responsible money
  Three longtime financiers who help guide Smith College decisions about investments and finances discussed how companies balance their goal of making money with social concerns on March 2 in Neilson Library Browsing Room. The panel, called "Socially Responsible Money: Why It Matters and How It Works," was part of a weekly non-credit course developed by Smith's Women and Financial Independence program. Offered for the first time this semester, the course boasts a slate of experts in areas such as investing, business ethics, corporate governance, and fair trade. Panel participants included Smith trustees Gayle White Jackson '67, chair of the board's Finance Committee; Louise M. Parent '72, co-chair of the board's Committee on Investor Responsibility; and Cornelia Mendenhall Small '66, chair of the board's Investment Committee. For more information about the panel members and the lecture series, visit http://www.smith.edu/newsoffice/releases/05-051.html.
 
  Sarah Stoll '88 receives prestigious CAREER award
  The National Science Foundation (NSF) selected Georgetown University Assistant Professor of Chemistry Sarah Stoll '88 as a 2005 recipient of the Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program award. Stoll is one of five current junior faculty members from the university's chemistry department to have received this award. "In the chemistry community, the CAREER award is a mark of promise and a sign of support by peers in the field," Stoll said. The CAREER program is one of NSF's most prestigious awards for new faculty members. Through these grants, it recognizes and supports the early career-development activities of teachers-scholars who are most likely to become the academic leaders of the twenty-first century.
 
  Presiding over a company's finances
 
Mary Margaret Van De Weghe '81 will put her extensive financial background to work as senior vice president of finance at the Lockheed Martin Corporation in Bethesda, Maryland. The company, which is engaged in research, development, and manufacturing of advanced technologies, made the announcement in January. Van De Weghe will be responsible for the company's treasury, financial strategies, investor relations, and merger and acquisition activities. Van De Weghe started her career at J.P. Morgan in New York and then became chief executive officer of Forte Consulting, where she provided strategic and financial consulting services to corporations and government organizations.
 
  Play a role in history
  Trouble is brewing in sixteenth-century England, and you could determine how it all turns out. Later this month, government professor Patrick Coby and English professor William Oram will lead alumnae through a unique educational role-playing game that will bring to life one of the most tumultuous times in English history, when Henry VIII's domestic problems spark the country's split from the Catholic church. Participants will have an opportunity to take on the role of a lord or commoner or member of Parliament and decide how the conflict ends. The event, titled "Reenacting the Past: Henry VIII and the Reformation Parliament," is being sponsored by the Alumnae Association of Smith College, and will take place on campus March 30-April 2, 2006. Limited space is available. For registration information, visit http://alumnae.smith.edu/education/historical.htm.
 
  Catch up on all things sports related at Smith
  Don't miss the first edition of the Friends of Athletics e-newsletter. Articles include photos and news about the alumnae celebration of twenty-five years of track & field, highlights from the fall athletics seasons, an article on team training trips, and a piece about initiatives for student-athlete leadership. To read the newsletter, visit www.smith.edu/athletics/news/friends06.htm.
 
  Ensuring New York City's integrity
  Julia Davis '82 has been appointed general counsel/deputy commissioner for legal affairs of the City of New York Business Integrity Commission. The commission regulates the trade waste industry, the shipboard gambling industry, and the public wholesale markets. Prior to this position, Davis served as inspector general for executive offices and non-mayoral agencies at the New York City Department of Investigation, where she investigated fraud, corruption, and conflicts of interest in city government.
 
  Acclaimed violinist makes Smith her home for a week
 
During the week of March 27-31, internationally acclaimed violinist Midori will be in residence at Smith College. While on campus, she will teach and coach, meet informally with students, and visit academic classes. Her stay will culminate with a recital with pianist Charles Abramovic, on March 31, at 8 p.m., in John M. Greene Hall. Prices for the performance range from $15 to $40. Tickets can be purchased in advance by calling the Northampton Box Office, 413-586-8686, 800-THE-TICK, or online at nbotickets.com. For more details, visit http://www.smith.edu/music/midori.
 
  Reunions planned for JYA alumnae
  Alumnae who spent their junior year abroad in either Geneva or Florence will have a chance to reconnect with some of their JYA classmates later this year. The Alumnae Association is hosting two reunions to celebrate the 75th anniversary of JYA in Florence and the 60th anniversary of the JYA in Geneva program. The Florence event, which is scheduled for October 6-8 in that city, will include current students, former JYA directors, and faculty from the Department of Italian Language and Literature. At the Geneva event, which is planned for October 12-15 in Switzerland, and is coinciding with the Smith in Europe reunion, President Carol Christ will speak about Smith today and participants will have plenty of opportunities to rediscover Geneva with alumnae, current students, and Smith faculty. For more information on either event, call 800-526-2023, ext. 4, or visit http://alumnae.smith.edu.
 
  Faculty and alumnae to explore concept of 'home'
  What is the meaning of "home"? How can we shape our environment to better reflect who we are? How does the space we live in affect us? These are just a few of the questions Smith faculty and alumnae will discuss during a special on-campus event, "Home: A Sense of Space, A Sense of Place," that promises an in-depth examination of our relationship with the space we inhabit. The symposium, which is being sponsored by the Alumnae Association, is scheduled for June 22-25 and will also include visits to the nearby historic homes of Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe. Plus, participants will get an insider's look at how the college's art collection makes a statement about the changing nature of home and space. For information about this event, contact Betsy Baird at the Alumnae Association: 800-526-2023, ext. 4, or bbaird@smith.edu.
 
  Artist's exhibition coincides with her 50th reunion
 
In celebration of her fiftieth reunion, New York artist Phyllis Rosser '56 will show twenty-four wood sculptures in the Alumnae House Gallery from April 3 through June 30. To construct her sculptures, Rosser strips wood of its bark, washes it smooth with water, and then weaves it into dense layers. She says she began collecting wood found along the beach near her New Jersey home some twenty years ago and now finds her materials in the Connecticut River in Bellows Falls, Vermont, where she has an on-site studio. She says she arranges these "dead" woods into "emotion-charged bundles" that--from struggles of time and wear--achieve subtle harmonies of rust, hazel, silver, and charcoal that "speak of resolution and peace." In the past two decades, Rosser has had numerous one-person exhibitions in New York and elsewhere, and she has participated in many group shows nationally. Her work is represented in a number of private and corporate collections, including the sculpture collection of Microsoft. For information about her work, visit http://www.phyllisrosser.com.
 
  Welcome to Ibsen's 'A Doll's House'
  Toby Bercovici '06 directs a new version of Henrik Ibsen's "A Doll's House," which will play at Smith April 20-22 and April 26-29. In her version, Bercovici offers a fresh take on Ibsen's familiar characters, Nora and Torvald Helmer, and the themes of tension and repression in the original play. She introduces a bawdy chorus of traveling performers who tell their tale to the audience with dances and shows. The production features original choreography. No stranger to Ibsen, Bercovici directed "Hedda Gabler" while still in high school. At Smith she has assistant directed many shows and worked closely with such prominent directors as Tina Shepard and Paul Zimet. Tickets for "A Doll's House," which will be performed at 8 p.m. in Theatre 14 of the Mendenhall Center for the Performing Arts, are $7 for the general public. For tickets, call 413-585-ARTS (2787). Information: www.smith.edu/smitharts.
 
  Smith in the Media
  BUSINESS WEEK, issue dated Feb. 27, 2006
"The Thinking at Harvard, West Point, and Smith." Smith is one of three elite colleges noted for successfully recruiting low-income students. Prestigious women's colleges have been at the forefront in attracting low-income students, according to the article, but none has been more aggressive than Smith.

CHRONICLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION, issue dated Feb. 17, 2006
"Ready for Their Close-Ups." Smith senior Drew Zandonella-Stannard is one of many college students who post personal videos online, thanks to a recent explosion of Web sites that host video material free and the ubiquity of camera phones and other devices that can take video clips.

THE BOSTON HERALD, Feb. 11, 2006
"Turin-on or Turin-off?" Americans' interest in the Winter Olympics has been waning in recent decades, based on U.S. television viewership. Sports economist and Smith Professor of Economics Andrew Zimbalist attributes this trend to the increased number of televised sporting events, making the Olympic games seem less special.

ELLE magazine, January 2006
"Elle Women 2006"
Yamini Mehta '93, who studied history, literature, and art history at Smith before rising to the executive ranks with auction giant Christie's, is featured as one of Elle magazine's bright-futured women of 2006 with a full-page profile.

BOSTON GLOBE MAGAZINE, Jan. 29, 2006
"Best of the New." Smith faculty member Paul Voss is among the new faces who "took a bold step in 2005 that made us think, made us laugh, or made a difference." In a year when hurricane season gave new urgency to debates about the environment, Voss, assistant professor of engineering, had his eyes on the skies tracking pollution.

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR, Jan. 26, 2006
"Life lessons in the Gulf's living lab." Thousands of college students from across America have not only been moved by the magnitude of the Gulf Coast disaster--they've also been mobilized. Smith student Gabrielle Thal-Pruzan recently traveled to New Orleans as part of Feminists of Smith Unite.
 
  *************AASC Programs and Services ***************
Get Away With Smith Travel

Smith Travel has an array of trips to satisfy your urge for adventure. Spaces are still available on these exciting trips:

TANZANIA-Camping Safari (summer 2006)
Due to the popularity of the Tanzanian Family Safari (July 1-13, 2006), we are
organizing another departure, June 20-July 2, 2006. Please call Liz
Bigwood at 800-225 2029 as soon as possible for further details.

ENCHANTMENT ALONG THE RHINE AND MOSELLE RIVERS, June 9-24, 2006. Two cabins are still available for this riverboat cruise through the heart of Europe. Michael Gorra, professor and chair of Smith's English department, will accompany you on a privately chartered riverboat through France, Switzerland, and Germany.

VIKING ODYSSEY, August 10-22, 2006. Explore Scandinavian history and culture from Copenhagen to the North Cape. Smith Professor of English Craig Davis will share his knowledge of Scandinavia, the Viking Age, and his expertise in medieval literature and comparative literature.

2007 proposed trips Watch for information on trips to New Zealand, Bhutan, Japan, the Dordogne, Libya, Tunisia and Algeria, and China.

Habitat for Humanity opportunity in Madagascar - Want to go to an exotic island and make a difference? Join longtime Habitat for Humanity volunteer Sherley Young '61 on this exciting journey. Sherley has led seven Habitat trips, including five to Africa. If you are willing to work (and have fun) and have an open mind, contact Sherley at sherleyy@yahoo.com for further details. Dates: October 26-November 19, 2006 (or November 12 for those who must return early). No previous construction skills are necessary. Knowledge of French is helpful but not essential.

For details, visit our updated Smith Travel Web site, where you will find full descriptions and prices on all of our 2006 trips: http://alumnae.smith.edu/travel/. Questions may be directed to Liz Bigwood at Smith Travel, 800-225-2029, or e-mail alumtravel@email.smith.edu.

Grow a bit of Smith in your garden
A limited number of 'Sophia Smith' rose bushes are available for sale to alumnae. In 1996, chemistry professor Robert Linck created a new hybrid rose named 'Sophia Smith' in honor or Smith's founder. This exquisite pinkish mauve rose is high-centered, of exhibition quality, and on strong stems. The blooms are uniform in color except for a beautiful salmon yellow near the base of the petals. The flower has a slight fragrance. It's a perfect addition to your garden and a wonderful tribute to Smith College and its founder. Order now and be among the first to own a 'Sophia Smith' rose. The special price for alumnae is $75. To place your order and for information about delivery, please contact Betsy Baird at the Alumnae Association: 800-526-2023, ext. 4; bbaird@smith.edu.

Benefits for Smith alumnae
Just because you've graduated from Smith doesn't mean you're forgotten. The Alumnae Association offers a variety of services to make your post-Smith life a little easier. Alumnae are eligible for various insurance options, including medical, life, and liability insurances, as well as a credit card that benefits Alumnae Association programs. For information on all Alumnae Association benefits and services, visit http://alumnae.smith.edu and click on "History and Mission."

Keep in touch
Wondering whatever happened to that Smith housemate who used to keep you company while you studied all night for a midterm? The Alumnae Association's Online Directory makes it easy for you to catch up with your Smith friends. You can search by name, location, profession, and even Smith house. Just visit the Alumnae Association's Web page at http://alumnae.smith.edu, and click on "Alumnae Directory and E-mail." While you're there, be sure to update your personal information. The directory is most effective when the information is kept up to date. To ensure that your information is correct, log into your alumnae directory account at https://smith.alumnae.net/login.asp and then click on "Personal Information" at the top of the screen.

Life insurance
Looking for a dependable life, liability, or temporary health insurance? The Alumnae Association's insurance program offers reasonable and critical protection for alumnae. Details are available at http://alumnae.smith.edu (click "History and Mission" and then "Benefits and Services"). Or for more information, call the AASC's broker, Meyer and Associates, at 800-635-7801. Identify yourself as a Smith alumna.

The Alumnae Association of Smith College promotes association programs and services only.

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For a compendium of the latest news about Smith, press releases, calendar of events, stories, and media coverage, visit Smith College News and Events Web site at http://www.smith.edu/news/
Other useful links:
Smith College Home: www.smith.edu
Alumnae Association of Smith College: http://alumnae.smith.edu
Smith Alumnae Quarterly: www.saqonline.smith.edu
Shaping the Future of Smith: http://www.smith.edu/future/shaping/
Supporting Smith: www.smith.edu/future