Strategic Planning
Strategic Plan Development
How do you reach your goals? Make a plan! We’re excited to develop Smith’s strategic plan over the coming months, allowing us to outline actionable goals for the college.
In fall 2024, a Strategic Planning Steering Committee—composed of trustees, faculty, staff, students, and alums, and assisted by Wellspring Consulting—began the process of developing Smith’s strategic plan. In addition to the committee, the entire Smith community will be actively participating throughout the process, providing input and feedback through a series of working groups.
President and President’s Team members
- Sarah Willie-LeBreton, President
- Joanna Olin, Chief of Staff and Liaison for Government Relations
- David DeSwert, Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration
- Daphne Lamothe, Provost and Dean of the Faculty and Professor of Africana Studies
- Elena Palladino, Secretary of the Board of Trustees, Secretary of the College
Smith College Board of Trustees members
- Johan Aurik ’86, Board of Trustees member
- Claudia San Pedro ’91, Board of Trustees member, Vice Chair of Resources & Operations Committee
Current student body member
- Ehle DeVaughn ’25, SGA President, Economics major
Current staff member
- ej seibert ’08, Director of Accessibility
Current faculty
- Nathan Derr, Chair of Faculty Council, Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, Chair of the Program in Biochemistry Director of the Center for Microscopy and Imaging
- Payal Banerjee, Associate Professor of Sociology
Academic Exploration
- Daphne Lamothe, Provost and Dean of the Faculty and Professor of Africana Studies
- Jennifer Joyce, Dean of the First-Year Class
- Terry-Ann Craigie, Associate Professor of Economics
- Becca Thomases, Professor of Mathematical Sciences
- Janelle Bradshaw, Trustee
- Minh Ly, Associate Director for Assessment, Institutional Research
- Margot Audero ’26, Engineering major
- Dawn Fulton, Professor of French Studies
Leadership & Career
- Denise McKahn, Associate Provost
- Faith McClellan, Dean of Career Development, Lazarus Center
- Fraser Stables, Associate Dean for Integrative Learning, Professor of Art
- Erin Cohn ’00, Director, Wurtele Center for Leadership
- Christine Kennedy ’10, Director of Alumnae Leadership and Career Engagement
- Ann Silverman, Trustee
- Ehle DeVaughn ’25, SGA President, Economics major
- Bozena “Boz” Welborne, Associate Professor and Chair of Middle East Studies, Associate Professor of Government
Community
- Samantha Earp, Vice President for Information Technology
- ej seibert ’08, Director of Accessibility
- Sophia Baez, Associate Director, Multicultural Affairs
- Chiderah Emeakoroha ’27, Government major
- Chris Aiken, Professor of Dance
- Bill Peterson, Professor of Psychology
- Liz Klarich, Associate Professor of Anthropology
- Cecilia Edwards ’88, Trustee
We want to hear from you!
We’re in the concurrent stages of researching/collecting input and establishing direction. You’re always welcome to submit feedback via the updated Smith College strategic planning response form or the physical suggestion boxes located next to the Campus Center Café or in the West Street Facilities building.
Timeline
Research/Collect Input
We aim to engage in a planning process that is inclusive and collaborative—we’ll be seeking input in a variety of ways from all Smith community members, including faculty, staff, students, alums, and Trustees. Through the fall and early winter, Wellspring will:
- Conduct baseline research on Smith College through a review of internal data and an initial set of 1:1 interviews with certain community members, including members of the Strategic Planning Steering Committee
- Engage in a round of internal listening with 100–175 people, including three days of engagement opportunities on campus
- Conduct an analysis of the higher education landscape, learning from analogous organizations and benchmarking Smith against similar colleges
Establish Direction
The Strategic Planning Steering Committee will analyze and discuss the data gathered through the research phase to begin to define the strategic direction for Smith. As the strategy begins to take shape, Wellspring will conduct a second round of internal listening to test ideas and receive feedback from the community, helping the Committee refine the strategy and define organizational implications. Wellspring will also build financial projections to further inform decision-making.
Prepare for Implementation
Throughout the spring, Wellspring will support Smith in defining how it will carry out the strategy—who will carry out what work, by when. We expect to launch the plan in fall of 2025.