Generation to Generation: Smithies Uplift Each Other and the World

From a young age, Nikki Radford ’04 has been passionate about protecting the environment, even organizing a neighborhood cleanup in her home state of Indiana.

Now, a few decades later, Radford is a project coordinator at the Environmental Protection Agency, where she ensures that companies comply with environmental requirements and regulations. “Our overall goal at the EPA is to protect human health and the environment,” she says.

Financial aid is what gave Radford the freedom to find her passion by opening doors to Smith. “My financial aid package meant that finances were not a deciding factor for me,” she says. “I didn’t have to forgo Smith because it was too expensive. It took the fear out of my decision.”

Radford arrived at Smith eager to explore different majors and career paths, but an open house for Smith’s new engineering program—the first of its kind at a women’s college—ultimately changed the trajectory of her life. She joined the college’s Picker Engineering Program in its inaugural year and quickly felt as if she’d found her calling. “Engineering has opened a lot of doors for me, and it gave me a solid background in critical thinking and analysis,” she says.

Protecting the Environment

When Radford graduated, her Smith advisor suggested AmeriCorps as a next step. For 11 months, Radford crisscrossed the country with other volunteers, helping with hurricane disaster relief in Florida and clearing trails in Oregon. “That experience underscored my intent to have a career focused on the environment,” she says.

Her work with the EPA is deeply meaningful. “I'm happy and lucky to have ended up doing something that I love, and something that’s important for future generations,” she says.

Intergenerational Investment

That same intergenerational approach extends to Radford’s philanthropy. She knows that her gift to financial aid will support Smith students who are forging their own careers of meaning and impact.

“I wouldn’t be the person I am today without Smith. Donating is a way for me to give back to a place that gave me so much,” Radford says. “I was given this opportunity because other Smithies donated and gave back to Smith. It’s important to be on that ladder and pull other people up.”

One Student’s Journey to Helping Communities

Seunghyeon Kim ’26’s life, like Radford’s, has been changed by financial aid.

When Kim arrived at Smith, she knew she wanted to advocate for social justice and equality for underrepresented communities. One thing she wasn’t sure of, though, was how to turn her aspirations into a career. Her sociology professor was instrumental in guiding her, and now Kim is a sociology and statistical and data sciences double major with a plan to use her data skills and sociological focus to craft public policy that supports social justice.

“I began participating in sociology events more actively and kept doing personal research related to social issues,” she says. “I can see how sociological theories and data analysis can lead to creating public policies that help communities.”

Hailing from Seoul, South Korea, Kim was impressed by how Smith welcomed and supported international students. For Kim, like Radford, receiving financial aid was essential. “My family and I were worried about the cost of tuition in the U.S., which is very expensive for international students. However, Smith’s financial aid package alleviated our concerns.”

Kim values Smith’s small class sizes and open curriculum, allowing her to evolve her interests. “I can take an array of courses, such as Italian, drawing, and Korean cinema.”

The generosity of alums who came before her—including Radford—has made Kim’s Smith experience all the more powerful, she says. “Financial aid allows us to spread our wings,” says Kim.

The Here for Every Voice: Generation to Generation initiative has galvanized Smithies of all ages, eager to make a Smith education accessible to today’s and future students. For many donors, this is the first time they have contributed to an endowed fund. Giving circles and class scholarship funds make it possible for individuals to contribute what they can, while as a group attaining the endowed amount and a gift match. Endowed gifts, whether individual or collective, qualify for the Generation to Generation Gift Matching Program, increasing the impact of the donation.

To make a gift, please contact Betsy Carpenter ’93, associate vice president for development, at ewcarpen@smith.edu or 413-585-2052.