Soccer coach Luma Mufleh '97 shares her inspiring story
 
Luma Mufleh ’97 started the year fairly anonymously as the coach of a soccer team of refugee children in Georgia. Then in late January the New York Times ran a front-page profile of her team, the Fugees, and suddenly Hollywood came calling, putting her at the center of a bidding war for her story. Two weeks after the Times article appeared, Mufleh was at Smith, addressing a packed lecture hall in the Brown Fine Arts Center. Her mission: to give voice to the experiences of refugees in America, especially those from war-ravaged countries around the world. For more, visit SAQ Online at http://saqonline.smith.edu/article.epl?issue_id=17&article_id=1707.
 
  New guidebook captures Smith's architecture
 
Experience the architectural beauty of Smith’s campus from the comfort of your couch. A new book, The Campus Guide: Smith College, is filled with colorful photographs and historical facts about 67 campus buildings, including Neilson Library, Wright and Hatfield halls, the president’s house, and the Brown Fine Arts Center. Organized as a series of five “walks,” the book, which is available at Amazon.com and soon at Grecourt Bookshop, is a review of nearly 150 years of architectural history. It features a foreword by President Carol Christ; an essay by Nina Antonetti, assistant professor of landscape studies; and photographs by noted photographer Bilyana Dimitrova. For additional details, visit http://www.smith.edu/news/2006-07/SmithGuide.php.
 
  Gloria Steinem '56 heads list of honorees at Smith's 129th Commencement
 
Editor, journalist, and political activist Gloria Steinem ’56, a tireless promoter of equality for women around the world, will be the speaker at Smith’s 129th Commencement ceremony, May 20. Steinem gained national attention as the outspoken leader of the women’s movement. In 1971, she co‑founded Ms. magazine, which became an influential forum for feminist issues. She is the author of several books, including Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions and Revolution from Within. Recently, she joined several other women, including actress Jane Fonda, in founding GreenStone Media, a national radio network dedicated to women listeners. Steinem received an honorary degree from Smith in 1988 and was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, New York, in 1993. Following Steinem’s address four other accomplished women will receive honorary degrees. They are: Dr. Helene Gayle, the first woman and first person of color to lead the international humanitarian organization CARE; Ruth Holmberg ’43, groundbreaking publisher of the Chattanooga Times and the Times Printing Company; Nancy Hopkins, professor of biology at MIT; and Lauren Lazin ’82, pioneering film producer, writer, and editor. For more information and photos of the honorees, visit http://www.smith.edu/newsoffice/releases/06-CommencementSpeaker.html.
 
  Senior breaks 19-year Smith track record
  At a February 17 New England Division III track meet, McKane Sharff ’07of Arlington, Massachusetts, won the championship in the 55‑meter dash with a time of 7:25, breaking a Smith record set in 1988. Sharff went on to finish 13th in the national competitions at Terre Haute, Indiana, with a time of 7:32. Although the psychology major would shine as an athlete at any college, she says she enjoys Division III sports because of the discipline, commitment, and sense of community. Off track, Sharff is part of the Student Athletic Advising Committee, helping younger women who want to combine sports and studies successfully, and she is one of the organizers of Breast Fest, an event to raise student awareness of breast cancer.
 
  AASC plans symposium on women's health
  Nourish your soul, sharpen your mind, and strengthen your body. A new program being offered exclusively by the Alumnae Association of Smith College will help you do all three. “Your Best Life,” an educational symposium on women’s health and well-being, scheduled for June 21–24 on campus, will bring together Smith faculty and prominent alumnae in the medical and health professions. Over three days, you’ll learn strategies for living a more balanced life, simple and effective ways to exercise your body and mind, and the latest news on medical issues important to women’s health. Speakers so far include Dominique Toran-Allerand ’55, professor of anatomy, cell biology, and neurology at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons; Barbara Brehm-Curtis, professor of exercise and sport studies at Smith; and Deborah Hoadley ’75, a specialist in preventive medicine and director of Heron Pond Health and Wellness in Longmeadow, Massachusetts. More information will be available soon at http://alumnae.smith.edu, and invitations will be sent via e-mail in the next month. In the meantime, questions can be directed to Betsy Baird at bbaird@email.smith.edu.
 
  Accomplished alumnae honored at Rally Day
 
Seniors donned silly hats—and, for the first time, their graduation robes—when the campus celebrated Rally Day on February 21. Sweeney Concert Hall became home to one giant pep rally, with students cheering and clapping with the mere mention of the phrase “class of 2007.” Five alumnae were honored during the festivities for their extraordinary professional and civic accomplishments. They were Sarah Chasis ’69, senior attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc., which specializes in environmental protection; Carolyn Scerbo Kaelin ’83, physician, author, and youngest director of Brigham and Women’s Comprehensive Breast Health Center; Mary Ann Freedman Hoberman ’51, author of children’s poetry books and winner of the National Book Award for A House is a House for Me; Trudy Rubin ’65, journalist and finalist for the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for her commentary on the Middle East; and Amy-Jill Levine ’78, chair of Vanderbilt Divinity School’s Carpenter program in religion, gender, and sexuality. For photographs of the celebration, visit http://www.smith.edu/future/NewsEvents/RallyDay07/index.php.
 
  Leader in science awarded fellowship
  Earlier this year, Catherine Hunt ’77 assumed the presidency of the American Chemical Society, the world’s largest scientific society, and was awarded an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellowship. The fellowship is given to AAAS members by their peers. Hunt was elected an AAAS fellow “for leadership in promoting innovation, understanding, and appreciation of, and in furthering innovation within, the chemical enterprise across organizational and institutional boundaries,” according to the journal Science. Hunt, an executive with Rohm and Haas, a specialty materials company based in Philadelphia, joined 448 other fellowship recipients in receiving a certificate and an honorary pin on February 17, during the AAAS annual meeting in San Francisco.
 
  Noted 'dealmaker' named senior VP of innovative payment service
  One of Forbes magazine’s “most powerful dealmakers” has been named senior vice president and general counsel for Obopay, the first comprehensive mobile payment service in the United States. Judith Mayer O’Brien ’71 will work on all of the company’s corporate matters, including strategic partnerships, intellectual property, and international expansion. “Judy O'Brien has represented many of the innovators that have shaped present-day Silicon Valley,” said Carol L. Realini, CEO and founder of Obopay. “Her leadership will help fuel our growth and expansion in the U.S. and globally.” The company allows customers to pay for just about anything with their cell phones. O’Brien has been named among Forbes’ “Most Powerful Dealmakers” five years in a row. For the past six years, she has been a managing director of the Incubic venture fund, having co-founded the fund in 2001.
 
  Kathleen Toomey '73 heads health promotion at CDC
  Kathleen Toomey ’73, M.D., M.P.H., has been named director of the Coordinating Center for Health Promotion (CoCHP) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Toomey has had a distinguished career in public health, having studied in Peru as a Fulbright scholar and at Harvard Medical School and the Harvard School of Public Health. Most recently, she served as director of the Division of Public Health at Georgia’s Department of Human Resources. As director of CoCHP, Toomey leads the CDC’s efforts that focus on chronic diseases, population health, disabilities, birth defects and other reproductive outcomes, as well as hereditary conditions.
 
  Symposium brings together alumnae in law
  How would you reinvent the practice of law? That’s one of the questions to be discussed during the Alumnae Association’s on-campus event, “Smith Women and the Practice of Law,” scheduled for March 29–30, 2007. The event, which is open to any alumna involved or interested in the practice of law, will feature alumnae lawyers, law professionals, and Smith faculty. Discussion topics include work/life balance, career paths, ethics, and issues related to diversity and discrimination in the profession. For information, contact Betsy Baird, associate director for alumnae education, at 800-526-2023, ext. 4; bbaird@email.smith.edu. Or to register visit the Alumnae Association’s Web site, https://alumnae.smith.edu/education/women_in_law.php.
 
  Smith to inaugurate new Center for Women in Mathematics
  This fall will see the inauguration of Smith’s new Center for Women in Mathematics, which will feature two new opportunities for women: a junior year program for students at coed universities and a post-baccalaureate program for women with BA’s who discovered their love for mathematics late and want courses to prepare for graduate work. Both programs will give participants a chance to study mathematics intensively in a women-centered environment. If you know of anyone (yourself included) who could benefit from these programs, tell them about it. Applications will be accepted until July 1. For information about the center, visit http://www.math.smith.edu/center/index.html
 
  A call for future Smithies
  The Office of Admission invites you to add the name of your granddaughter, daughter, sister, niece, or neighbor to its mailing list by following this link: http://www.smith.edu/admission/forms/addtolist.php. At appropriate times during her high school career, she will receive information about Smith. We so value the Smith tradition that when your sister, daughter or granddaughter (or great‑granddaughter) applies to Smith, her application fee will be waived.
 
  Teachers wanted
  The Office of Admission is looking for high school teachers to add to a database of alumnae teachers. If you’re a teacher, follow this link to tell us who you are and where you teach: http://www.smith.edu/admission/forms/alumteach.php. As a teacher and an alumna, you have no doubt shared your enthusiasm about Smith with your students. We encourage you to continue to spread the word. We look forward to hearing from you.
 
  Stories from alumnae authors
  Curious how author Jane Yolen ’60 has managed to write more than 250 children’s books, or how author Ruth Ozeki ’80 develops her characters? Check out the Alumnae Association’s new series of audio interviews with alumnae authors, “An Author’s Voice.” Featured so far are interviews with Yolen; Ozeki, author of My Year of Meats; Robin Hathaway ’56, who created the Dr. Fenimore mystery series; romance novelist Judith Arnold (Barbara Keiler ’74); science fiction author Andrea Hairston ’74, a professor of theatre at Smith; and writer Marissa Walsh ’94. To start listening, go to http://alumnae.smith.edu and look under the “Audio Transcripts” section. Files are available for download in MP3 format.
 
  *************AASC Programs and Services ***************

Plan a Vacation with Smith Travel

Spaces are still available on these exciting trips:

BHUTAN: INSIDE THE DRAGON KINGDOM, April 28–May 12, 2007
Join Andy Rotman, assistant professor of religion and Ph.D. in South Asian languages and civilizations, as you travel to Bhutan, the last of the intact Buddhist Himalayan kingdoms. You will be mesmerized by this land of peace, prosperity, and spiritual richness. Explore the main sights in Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, Wangdue, Trongsa, and Jakar, and attend a private dance performance amid swirling incense, streaming costumes, and magical masks.

JOURNEY TO THE FAR EAST: An Exploration of Japan’s Cultural Traditions, Historical Treasures, and Cutting-Edge Innovation, June 3–16, 2007
Don Robinson, Charles N. Clark Professor Emeritus of Government and co-editor of The Constitution of Japan: A Documentary History of its Framing and Adoption, will travel with you on this fascinating journey to Japan. Your tour director, fluent in Japanese, along with expert local guides, will ensure an in-depth appreciation of this varied country.

GOLFING IN SCOTLAND FOR WOMEN: July 29–August 6, 2007
Experience the Women’s British Open Championship as it is played for the first time at St. Andrew’s. This trip combines tee times and lessons with luxury pampering, fine dining, and a tour of the Scottish countryside. You’ll stay at the five-star Turnberry Westin and the St. Andrews Bay Golf Resort and Spa. Accompanying you will be Lynn Oberbillig, director of athletics at Smith.


CHINA, TIBET, and the YANGTZE RIVER, August 19–September 4, 2007
Travel with Peter Gregory, Jill Ker Conway Professor of Religion and East Asian Studies, on this exciting trip to China and Tibet. Highlights include visits to the Forbidden City in Beijing and the Dalai Lama’s winter and summer residence in Lhasa, Tibet; a cruise along the Yangtze River; and a tour of the Shanghai Museum. Also joining you will be Carrie Cadwell Brown, Ed.M. ’82, executive director of the Alumnae Association of Smith College.

For full itineraries and prices, contact Smith Travel at 800-225-2029 or e-mail alumtrav@smith.edu. For a full listing of trips and slideshows of past trips, visit http://alumnae.smith.edu/travel.

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 a menu item under "Benefit."

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 log in under "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 on the "Insurance Benefits" link under "Benefit"). 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