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Smith Athletics and Recreation is committed to prioritizing diversity, equity and inclusion as we continue to create an environment that embraces individual differences and values diverse identities. We are more than just student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and staff - we want to use our shared passion for sports to collectively learn, grow, and activate around issues of inclusion. This requires the lenses of social justice, education, and active allyship to turn dialogue and intention into action. Support and resources for student-athletes and staff around diversity, equity and inclusion are steps towards building a culture where all members of the athletic community feel they belong. Our expectation is that this work will be ongoing and evolving.
2025-26Â Events
2025Â Keynote:
Courage & Community in Contentious Times: Finding the Strength to Move Forward
- Farah Pandith '90 -
Future Events TBA
Active Activism
A Smith Athletics resource letter offering articles, videos, and tangible actions to help us further understand
how we can continue to support people of color, both on Smith Campus and across the country.
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My Story Matters
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NCAA Resources
The NCAA office of inclusion advances diversity, equity and inclusion in college athletics for over 1,100 member schools and athletics conferences. The office supports student-athletes and individuals who teach and lead across the core areas of disability, international, LGBTQ, race/ethnicity and women.
The office of inclusion facilitates programming, provides educational resources, and advocates for diverse, equitable, and inclusive environments that enhance the student-athlete experience and provide opportunities for coaches and administrators. The office offers signature events like the annual NCAA Inclusion Forum that support the membership's efforts to achieve and maintain inclusive excellence.
On Campus Resources
The Office for Equity and Inclusion grounds its work in the college's mission and sustained commitment to be a diverse, equitable and inclusive campus. We aspire for every member of our community to uphold these principles. To promote a shared understanding across campus, here is our articulation of the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion. These principles were created by OEI in collaboration with campus community members and then ratified by the Cabinet. These are by our community and for our community.
Contact on campus:Â
Floyd Cheung (he/him) Vice President for Equity and Inclusion
Email: fcheung@smith.edu Phone: 413-585-2141
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The Office of Multicultural Affairs is committed to shaping a strong community among students of color while promoting an understanding of cultural diversity for the Smith community as a whole. The director coordinates activities that encourage exploration of one's identity, culture and heritage and an understanding of those of others. The office emphasizes the interests and needs of those who identify as students of color, beginning with the first-year pre-orientation program. The multicultural affairs office serves as a source of guidance and advocacy for students of color as they navigate their Smith experience.
Contact on campus:Â
L'Tanya Richmond (she/her) Dean of Multicultural Affairs
Email: lrichmon@smith.edu Phone: 413-585-4945
- Resource Center for Sexuality and Gender
Contacts on campus:Â
Toby Davis (he/him) Inclusion Education Trainer/Facilitator
Email: tdavis@smith.edu Phone: 413-585-6261
Raven Fowlkes-Witten (they/them) Program and Outreach Coordinator
Email: rfowlkeswitten@smith.edu Phone: 413-585-6260
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The Smith Center for Religious & Spiritual Life offers a unique setting for student engagement. You'll find holiday and holy day celebrations, a cappella concerts, religious text study, intriguing discussions and fresh-baked cookies—sometimes happening all at the same time. We tailor the programs and activities we offer each semester to students' questions, concerns and ideas. Some of our popular programs include Soup, Salad & Soul, Mindful Mondays, Muslim Prayer Lunch, weekly meditation, and our annual Interfaith Sundae event.
We meet with students at the chapel, as well as in student houses, dining rooms, the Campus Center and for walks along the pond. Drop by the chapel anytime to visit, hang out or study. Our staff are also available to meet with students by appointment. We want all Smith students to feel there is a place for them here. We work to ensure that you have what you need to thrive here—whether it is food that meets your dietary requirements, listening hearts, religious community to worship or celebrate with, or a companion on your spiritual journey.
Contact on campus:
Matilda Cantwell (she/her or they/them) Director of Religious and Spiritual Life and College Chaplain
Email: mcantwel@smith.edu Phone: 413-585-4595
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- CLIFS: Smith's Community for Low-Income and First Generation Students
CLIFS is a group formed in order to build community for low-income and first generation students at Smith and create a more equitable campus. Connect with other first gen students on Facebook or Instagram, at social events, information sessions, study groups, discussions, celebrations, and more!
Contacts on campus:Â
Toby Davis (he/him) Inclusion Education Trainer/Facilitator
Email: tdavis@smith.edu Phone: 413-585-6261
First Gen Out Loud is a community-building and leadership program for students who are first in their families to attend a four-year college. First gen students who join "First Gen Out Loud" participate in a yearlong cohort program during which they reflect on life at Smith and beyond. Please visit their website to learn more and apply: www.smith.edu/academics/narratives-project
Contacts on campus:Â
Jessica Bacal (she/her) Director, Reflective and Integrative Practices and The Narratives Project
Email:  jbacal@smith.edu Phone: 413-585-4914
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The Accessibility Resource Center (ARC) serves as a central point of information and coordination to ensure equal access and full participation for students, faculty, staff and visitors with disabilities in all programs and activities at Smith College. Principles of Universal Design guide us in our work as we strive to proactively identify and remove barriers to participation wherever possible. We also strive to promote a disability positive and inclusive climate at Smith that recognizes each person's identity and values the diverse perspectives that contribute to a multicultural living and learning environment.
Contact on campus:Â
ej seibert (they/them) Director of the Accessibility Resource Center
Email: eseibert@smith.edu Phone: 413-585-2071
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Past Speakers and Training
Arshay Cooper - We welcomed Arshay Cooper to campus in October of 2024. Arshay travels the world, telling the story of his experience
as a rower and captain of America's first all-Black high school rowing team. Cooper shares about his initial hesitation for rowing due to lack
of representation, and the subsequent life skills, relationships, and lessons he learned from his experience on the team. Arshay also works
to remove barriers to entry into the rowing world for folks from underrepresented populations through scholarships, camps, and through his
bestselling book and award-winning film
Jen Fry - Smith Athletics welcomed Jen in July of 2020. JenFryTalks is a social justice education firm that uses conversation
to educate and empower those within athletics through an anti-racist lens on issues of race, inclusion, intersectionality, diversity, and equity.Â
Return On Inclusion - In the fall of 2020 Smith Athletics started this sport-specific diversity and inclusion education
course dedicated to developing inclusive leaders and fostering a culture of belonging across social and cultural differences.                                              Â
Anthony Rogers Wright - In the spring of 2019, Anthony was invited to Smith as a keynote speaker for the Empower Conference.
This conference was organized by the student-athlete led Sports Committee for Inclusion and Diversity (SCID). Anthony then did a workshop
for the athletics department staff.Â
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2025-26Â Inclusion Council
Kelsey Parks Smith -Â Assistant Athletic Director for Equity, Inclusion, and Student-Athlete Well-Being
Jess Duff - Associate Director of AthleticsÂ
Jaime Ginsberg - Head Field Hockey Coach
Caitlyn Lawrence - Head Tennis Coach
Jen MacAulay - Assistant Basketball Coach
Kathy Brawn - Head Soccer Coach
Steph Lopez - Graduate Assistant Tennis Coach
Ally Yamada - Graduate Assistant Basketball Coach
**To contact the inclusion council with ideas, feedback, and questions please email kparkssmith@smith.edu**
**To report Smith Code of Conduct violations including incidents of bias or discrimination you can head to this page where there are options to report anonymously or identified.**
Questions or concerns can be directed to the Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Athletics:
Jess Duff
Telephone: 413-585-2713
Email:
jduff@smith.edu
