Global Connections: An international newsletter | Spring 2020

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Staying connected during a time of social distancing

By now, you've likely heard that Smith students are finishing the spring semester remotely to help fight the spread of COVID-19. If there is a silver lining to all this, it is that (as always) Smithies take care of one another.

This isn't the end of the semester any of us anticipated, but we will continue to band together and to keep you informed about the situation. You can stay up to date by visiting the college's Coronavirus updates page or various Smith College Facebook pages, including Smith College Global Connections.

Most of the Smith College staff (including our department) is working from home at this time, but we're still accessible by email and have been participating in a great number of Zoom and What's App calls! Please know that we here at Smith are thinking about you and want to keep you connected in these complicated times. We would love to hear how you are doing and what we can do to help.

Sincerely,

Danielle Brown & Jacqui DeFelice
International Alumnae Relations & Development
Students throw impromptu graduation ceremony, college ceremony moves online
As students packed up to move off campus last month due to the threat of COVID-19, the fate of Commencement was unknown. In true Smithie fashion, seniors organized their own ceremony and celebrated on campus before departure. Footage from the ceremony was taken by Rebecca Grossman '20 and shared by the Washington Post.

The class of 2020 will also have a chance to celebrate on May 17, when the college hosts its first virtual Commencement (featuring a commencement address by Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives)!
Smithies around the world support emergency aid for students
When President Kathleen McCartney announced that students would be finishing their spring semester studies remotely to help protect the community from the spread of COVID-19, Smithies did what they do best—rallied in support of others in need. Just 24 hours after the college set up a Student Emergency Aid Fund more than 300 alumnae, parents and friends of Smith had already donated $41,400 in support of students’ financial needs, such as moving, travel and technology expenses.

Since then, that fund has continued to grow as donors from all over the world contribute to help Smithies adapt to our current situation.
Global Illumination Night to take place on May 16
We could all use a little more light in these dark time, and Michelle Stahl AC '95 has come up with the perfect way to brighten our days: Global Illumination Night 2020.

In honor of both the class of 2020 and one of Smith’s most beloved traditions, we hope you’ll join us. Here’s how:
  1. Find something in your home—anything from a lantern to a lamp or candle—to illuminate on your porch, front step or in your window. 
  2. Any night before May 13, take a picture of whatever you choose to light.
  3. Upload your picture (saved at its highest resolution) to this form by May 13. We'll create a gallery of the images to share on social media and present to the class of 2020.
  4. Most importantly, after you've taken your picture and uploaded it for others to see, remember to shine your light for yourself and our seniors at dusk on May 16. Post your pictures on social media using the hashtag #smithilluminates so we can watch this global event grow. 
Alumnae stay connected online
Alumnae around the world have been staying connected through virtual events with friends and clubs.

One popular activity is "Tea in the Cloud," which is organized by group on Facebook that gathers for virtual tea (ask a fellow Smithie on Facebook for an invitation; it's a private group for alums and as staff members we don't have a link!). Alumnae are also welcome to join Smith's free webinar program, which brings personal thought leaders and industry experts right to you! And the college is even hosting its first virtual Reunion, which will be held free of charge from May 22-24.
Farewell to Danielle Brown
Our Assistant Director of International Alumnae Relations & Development, Danielle Brown, is wrapping up her final week at Smith, having accepted a new position as the development director at a local park. Danielle has been with Smith for more than nine years.

Danielle says, "It's been an absolute pleasure working for Smith all these years and traveling around the world meeting our alumnae. I've traveled with the banner in this photo to meet Smithies in Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, United Kingdom, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, France, Japan, and Korea! It's also been with me at receptions we've hosted on campus. I'm going to miss our travels and all the alumnae I've come to know over the years. It has been a pleasure working with you all. Smith will always hold a very special place in my heart.