The following is a list of individuals associated with Smith College through attending as a student, or serving as a member of the faculty or staff.

Notable alumnae

The Alumnae Association of Smith College considers all former students to be members, whether they graduated or not, and does not generally differentiate between graduates and non-graduates when identifying Smith alumnae.

Academia

* Frances Dorothy Acomb, 1932, academic and historian * Susan Low Bloch, 1966, professor at

Georgetown University Law Center The Georgetown University Law Center (Georgetown Law) is the law school of Georgetown University, a private research university in Washington, D.C. It was established in 1870 and is the largest law school in the United States by enrollment and ...

, member of the American Law Institute * Laura Bornholdt, 1940, historian and dean at Sarah Lawrence College,

University of Pennsylvania The University of Pennsylvania (also known as Penn or UPenn) is a private research university in Philadelphia. It is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and is ranked among the highest-regarded universitie ...

, and Wellesley College * LaWanda Cox, 1934, M.A., noted historian of slavery and reconstruction at Hunter College * Otelia Cromwell, 1900, first African-American woman to receive a Yale degree, educator * Diana L. Eck, 1967, professor of comparative religion and Indian studies and master of

Lowell House Lowell House is one of twelve undergraduate residential Houses at Harvard University, located at 10 Holyoke Place facing Mount Auburn Street between Harvard Yard and the Charles River. Officially, it is named for the Lowell family, but an orna ...

Harvard University Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of high ...

* Mira Hinsdale Hall, 1883, founder of Miss Hall's School *

Jean Harris Jean Struven Harris (April 27, 1923 – December 23, 2012) was the headmistress of The Madeira School for girls in McLean, Virginia, who made national news in the early 1980s when she was tried and convicted of the murder of her ex-lover, Her ...

, 1945, notable for work with female inmates after serving time herself * Margaret Hutchins, 1906, reference librarian and professor at

Columbia University Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...

* Elisabeth Irwin, 1903, founder of Little Red School House *

Sally Katzen Sally Katzen (born November 22, 1942) is an American lawyer, legal scholar, and government official. Katzen was a member of the Obama-Biden Transition Project's Agency Review Working Group responsible for the Executive Office of the President and ...

, 1964, law scholar, civil servant *

Catharine MacKinnon Catharine Alice MacKinnon (born October 7, 1946) is an American radical feminist legal scholar, activist, and author. She is the Elizabeth A. Long Professor of Law at the University of Michigan Law School, where she has been tenured since 1990, ...

, 1968, feminist, scholar, lawyer, teacher and activist * Neda Maghbouleh, B.A. 2004, American-born Canadian sociologist, scholar, writer, author, and educator; the

Canada Research Chair Canada Research Chair (CRC) is a title given to certain Canadian university research professors by the Canada Research Chairs Program. Program goals The Canada Research Chair program was established in 2000 as a part of the Government of Canada ...

in Migration, Race, and Identity and associate professor of sociology at the

University of Toronto Mississauga The University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM), also known as U of T Mississauga, is one of the three campuses that make up the tri-campus system of the University of Toronto. Located in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, the campus opened in 1967 as Eri ...

Amy Richlin Amy Ellen Richlin (born December 12, 1951) is a professor in the Department of Classics at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). Her specialist areas include Latin literature, the history of sexuality, and feminist theory. Early life ...

, 1970, professor in Department of Classics at UCLA *

Denise Spellberg Denise A. Spellberg (born c. 1958) is an American scholar of Islamic history. She is professor of history and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Texas at Austin. Spellberg holds an A.B. in History from Smith College (1980) and an M.A., M ...

, 1980, scholar of Islamic history * Laura D'Andrea Tyson, 1969, professor at

Haas School of Business The Walter A. Haas School of Business, also known as Berkeley Haas, is the business school of the University of California, Berkeley, a public research university in Berkeley, California. It was the first business school at a public university i ...

UC Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley, Berkeley, Cal, or California) is a public land-grant research university in Berkeley, California. Established in 1868 as the University of California, it is the state's first land-grant uni ...

, former and first female Director of National Economic Council, former Chair of

Council of Economic Advisors The Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) is a United States agency within the Executive Office of the President established in 1946, which advises the President of the United States on economic policy. The CEA provides much of the empirical resea ...

, first female dean of

London Business School London Business School (LBS) is a business school and a constituent college of the federal University of London. LBS was founded in 1964 and awards post-graduate degrees (Master's degrees in management and finance, MBA and PhD). Its motto is " ...

College presidents

Ada Comstock Ada Louise Comstock (December 11, 1876 – December 12, 1973) was an American women's education pioneer. She served as the first dean of women at the University of Minnesota and later as the first full-time president of Radcliffe College. Early ...

, 1897, third and first full-time President of Radcliffe College *

Rhoda Dorsey Rhoda M. Dorsey (September 9, 1927 – May 10, 2014) was an American historian and college president. Dorsey was the longest serving president of Goucher College and the first woman to hold the position. Early life and education Rhoda Dorsey w ...

, 1946, longest serving and first woman President of

Goucher College Goucher College ( ') is a private liberal arts college in Towson, Maryland. It was chartered in 1885 by a conference in Baltimore led by namesake John F. Goucher and local leaders of the Methodist Episcopal Church.https://archive.org/details/h ...

* Mary Patterson McPherson, 1957, sixth President of

Bryn Mawr College Bryn Mawr College ( ; Welsh: ) is a women's liberal arts college in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. Founded as a Quaker institution in 1885, Bryn Mawr is one of the Seven Sister colleges, a group of elite, historically women's colleges in the United ...

, former Vice President of the

Andrew W. Mellon Foundation The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation of New York City in the United States, simply known as Mellon Foundation, is a private foundation with five core areas of interest, and endowed with wealth accumulated by Andrew Mellon of the Mellon family of Pitts ...

, Executive Officer of

American Philosophical Society The American Philosophical Society (APS), founded in 1743 in Philadelphia, is a scholarly organization that promotes knowledge in the sciences and humanities through research, professional meetings, publications, library resources, and communit ...

* Elizabeth Hoffman, 1968, 20th President of the

University of Colorado The University of Colorado (CU) is a system of public universities in Colorado. It consists of four institutions: University of Colorado Boulder, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, University of Colorado Denver, and the University o ...

System * Nancy A. Roseman, 28th President of Dickinson College * Victoria Murden McClure, 1985, President of

Spalding University Spalding University is a private Catholic university in Louisville, Kentucky. It is affiliated with the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth. History Spalding University traces its origins to Nazareth Academy, one of the oldest educational instituti ...

Activism

Blanche Ames Ames Blanche Ames Ames (February 18, 1878 – March 2, 1969) was an American artist, political activist, inventor, writer, and prominent supporter of women's suffrage and birth control. Personal life Born Blanche Ames in Lowell, Massachusetts, Am ...

, 1899, President of the Class of 1899, portraitist, women's rights activist, and inventor * Jennifer Chrisler, 1992, Executive Director of Family Equality Council * Alice T. Days, documentary filmmaker *

Betty Friedan Betty Friedan ( February 4, 1921 – February 4, 2006) was an American feminist writer and activist. A leading figure in the women's movement in the United States, her 1963 book ''The Feminine Mystique'' is often credited with sparking the se ...

, 1942, author of ''

The Feminine Mystique ''The Feminine Mystique'' is a book by Betty Friedan, widely credited with sparking second-wave feminism in the United States. First published by W. W. Norton on February 19, 1963, ''The Feminine Mystique'' became a bestseller, initially selling o ...

'', co-founder and first President of

National Organization for Women The National Organization for Women (NOW) is an American feminist organization. Founded in 1966, it is legally a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization. The organization consists of 550 chapters in all 50 U.S. states and in Washington, D.C. It ...

, renowned feminist *

Yolanda King Yolanda Denise King (November 17, 1955 – May 15, 2007) was an African-American activist, actress and first-born child of civil rights leaders Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King. She was also known for her artistic and entertainment ...

, 1976, activist and daughter of civil rights leader

Martin Luther King Jr. Martin Luther King Jr. (born Michael King Jr.; January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American Baptist minister and activist, one of the most prominent leaders in the civil rights movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968 ...

* Susan Lindauer, 1985, journalist and antiwar activist *

Kathleen Ridder Kathleen Culman Ridder (October 2, 1922 – April 3, 2017) was an American philanthropist, educator, writer, and feminist. She graduated from University of Minnesota Duluth as a teacher, advocated for women's athletic programs at the University ...

, philanthropist, educator, writer, equality for women activist * Jean Gurney Fine Spahr (1861-1935), social reformer associated with the Rivington Street Settlement *

Gloria Steinem Gloria Marie Steinem (; born March 25, 1934) is an American journalist and social-political activist who emerged as a nationally recognized leader of second-wave feminism in the United States in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Steinem was a c ...

, 1956, founder of ''

Ms. Ms. (American English) or Ms (British English; normally , but also , or when unstressed)''Oxford English Dictionary'' online, Ms, ''n.2''. Etymology: "An orthographic and phonetic blend of Mrs ''n.1'' and miss ''n.2'' Compare mizz ''n.'' The pr ...

'' magazine, founding editor of ''

New York Magazine ''New York'' is an American biweekly magazine concerned with life, culture, politics, and style generally, and with a particular emphasis on New York City. Founded by Milton Glaser and Clay Felker in 1968 as a competitor to ''The New Yorker' ...

'', noted feminist and political activist * Helen Rand Thayer (1863-1935), co-founder and president of the College Settlements Association *

Mary van Kleeck Mary Abby van Kleeck (June 26, 1883June 8, 1972) was an American social scientist of the 20th century. She was a notable figure in the American labor movement as well as a proponent of scientific management and a planned economy. An American of ...

1904,

social feminist Social feminism is a feminist movement that advocates for social rights and special accommodations for women. It was first used to describe members of the women's suffrage movement in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries who were con ...

Gertrude Weil Gertrude Weil (11 December 1879 – 3 May 1971) was an American social activist involved in a wide range of progressive/leftist and often controversial causes, including women's suffrage, labor reform and civil rights. Biography Early life ...

, 1901, activist of women's suffrage, labor reform and civil rights

Arts

Tia Blake Christiana Elizabeth "Tia" Wallman (April 13, 1952 – June 17, 2015), better known by her stage name Tia Blake, was an American singer-songwriter and writer. She was known for her 1971 debut album, ''Folk Songs & Ballads: Tia Blake and Her Folk ...

, 1989, singer-songwriter and writer * Gina Knee Brook, artist * Miriam Davenport, 1937, painter and sculptor who played a central role in helping European Jews escape the

Holocaust The Holocaust, also known as the Shoah, was the genocide of European Jews during World War II. Between 1941 and 1945, Nazi Germany and its collaborators systematically murdered some six million Jews across German-occupied Europe; ...

* Eleanor de Laittre, artist *

Maya Deren Maya Deren (born Eleonora Derenkowska, uk, Елеоно́ра Деренко́вська, links=no;

, U.S. avant-garde filmmaker and film theorist of the 1940s and 1950s * Alison Frantz, archeological photographer and academic *

Merrill Garbus Tune-Yards (stylized as tUnE-yArDs) is the American, Oakland, California–based music project of Merrill Garbus and Nate Brenner. Garbus's music draws from an eclectic variety of sources and utilizes elements such as loop pedals, ukulele, voca ...

, 2001, founder, lead singer and instrumentalist for

Tune-Yards Tune-Yards (stylized as tUnE-yArDs) is the American, Oakland, California–based music project of Merrill Garbus and Nate Brenner. Garbus's music draws from an eclectic variety of sources and utilizes elements such as loop pedals, ukulele, voca ...

Thelma Golden Thelma Golden (born 1965 in St. Albans, Queens) is the Director and Chief Curator of The Studio Museum in Harlem, New York City, United States. Golden joined the Museum as Deputy Director for Exhibitions and Programs in 2000 before succeeding ...

, 1985, Board of

Obama Foundation The Barack Obama Foundation is a Chicago-based nonprofit organization founded in 2014. It oversees the creation of the Barack Obama Presidential Center, runs the My Brother's Keeper Alliance (a program Barack Obama began while he was president), ...

and Chief Curator of the Studio Museum in Harlem *

Shelley Hack Shelley Marie Hack (born July 6, 1947) is an American actress, model and producer. She is best known as the face of Revlon's Charlie perfume from the mid-1970s until the early 1980s, and for her role as Tiffany Welles in the fourth season of ''C ...

, 1969, actress and model * Sarah P. Harkness, 1937, architect *

Cynthia Harris Cynthia Lee Harris (August 9, 1934 – October 3, 2021) was an American film, television, and stage actress. She is best known for her roles in the television series '' Edward & Mrs. Simpson'' and the sitcom ''Mad About You''. Life and career C ...

, actress * Rose Jang, pop opera singer, PR ambassador for Korean Tourism Office and UNESCO of Korea *

Mimi Kennedy Mary Claire "Mimi" Kennedy (born September 25, 1948) is an American actress, author, and activist. Best known for her roles in television sitcoms, Kennedy co-starred in numerous short-lived sitcoms before her role as Ruth Sloan on '' Homefront'' ...

, 1970, actress *

Diana Kleiner Diana Elizabeth Edelman Kleiner (born September 18, 1947 in New York City) is an American art historian and educator. A scholar of Ancient Roman art and architecture, Kleiner is the Dunham Professor of the History of Art Emeritus at Yale Universi ...

, 1969, art historian *

Carolyn Kuan Carolyn Kuan (born 1977) is a Chinese-American conductor. Biography Carolyn Kuan's family is originally from Guangzhou, China, though Kuan was born in Taipei. When she was five years old, her older brother received a piano as a birthday gift ...

, conductor, pianist, music director for

Hartford Symphony Orchestra The Hartford Symphony Orchestra (HSO) is an American orchestra based in Hartford, Connecticut. Overview The orchestra presents more than 100 concerts annually to audiences numbering more than 110,000. The Hartford Symphony Orchestra’s exten ...

May Lillie Mary Emma "May" Manning Lillie (March 12, 1869 – September 17, 1936) was an American sharpshooter and equestrian. Biography Mary Manning was born on March 12, 1869, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her parents were physician William R. and Mary ...

, 1886, Wild West show performer and equestrian *

MJ Long Mary Jane Long, Lady Wilson, OBE (July 31, 1939 – September 3, 2018), known as MJ Long, was an American architect, lecturer and author, best known for her work as a principal architect partner on the British Library in London (with her husban ...

, joint architect of the

British Library The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom and is one of the largest libraries in the world. It is estimated to contain between 170 and 200 million items from many countries. As a legal deposit library, the British ...

Kathleen Marshall Kathleen Marshall (born September 28, 1962) is an American director, choreographer, and creative consultant. Life and career Born in Madison, Wisconsin, she graduated from Taylor Allderdice High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1980 and ...

, 1985, three-time Tony Award-winning choreographer * Deborah Nehmad, 1974, attorney and artist *

Cornelia Oberlander Cornelia Hahn Oberlander (20 June 1921 – 22 May 2021) was a German-born Canadian landscape architect. Her firm, Cornelia Hahn Oberlander Landscape Architects, was founded in 1953, when she moved to Vancouver. During her career she contribu ...

, 1944, landscape architect *

Toks Olagundoye Olatokunbo Susan Olasobunmi Abeke "Toks" Olagundoye (born 16 September 1975) is a Nigerian actress.The Neighbors'' * Judith Raskin, 1949, Metropolitan Opera Soprano * Romita Ray, 1992, art historian *

Pauline Gibling Schindler Pauline Gibling Schindler (March 19, 1893 – May 4, 1977) was an American composer, educator, editor, and arts promoter, especially influential in supporting modern art in Southern California. Her husband was architect Rudolph Schindler. Early ...

, 1915, Los Angeles arts figure * Sandy Skoglund, 1968, artist * Mary Otis Stevens, 1949, architect *

Patricia Wettig Patricia Anne Wettig (born December 4, 1951) is an American actress and playwright. She is best known for her role as Nancy Weston in the television series ''Thirtysomething'' (1987–1991), for which she received a Golden Globe Award and three P ...

, 2001, actress and playwright, '' Brothers & Sisters'' * Inez Harrington Whitfield, 1889, Arkansas-based

botanical illustrator Botanical illustration is the art of depicting the form, color, and details of plant species, frequently in watercolor paintings. They must be scientifically accurate but often also have an artistic component and may be printed with a botanical ...

Stoner Winslett Stoner Winslett (born 1958) is an American former ballet dancer and the artistic director of the Richmond Ballet. In 2014, she was honored by the Virginia Women in History project of the University of Virginia for her contributions to the communit ...

, 1980, artistic director,

Richmond Ballet The Richmond Ballet, named the State Ballet of Virginia in 1990 by then Governor Douglas Wilder, is an education and performance institution, founded in 1957. Founding In 1957, the Ballet Impromptu, founded by Richmond natives Robert C. Watkin ...

* Alice Morgan Wright, sculptor, suffragist, advocate of animal rights

Authors

Natalie Babbitt Natalie Zane Babbitt (née Moore; July 28, 1932 – October 31, 2016) was an American writer and illustrator of children's books. Her 1975 novel '' Tuck Everlasting'' was adapted into two feature films and a Broadway musical. She received th ...

, 1954, Newbery Medal Honor-winning author of ''

Knee-Knock Rise ''Knee-Knock Rise'' is a children's literature, children's book written by Natalie Babbitt and published in 1970. It was awarded the Newbery Honor in 1971. Although the story is intended for children, some of the underlying themes deal with subje ...

'' and ''

Tuck Everlasting ''Tuck Everlasting'' is an American children's novel about immortality written by Natalie Babbitt and published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux in 1975. It has sold over 5 million copies and has been called a classic of modern children's literature ...

'' *

Joanna Barnes Joanna Barnes (November 15, 1934 – April 29, 2022) was an American actress and writer. Early life and education Barnes was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the eldest daughter of John Pindar Barnes and Alice Weston Mutch. She had two younger ...

, 1956, actress and author *

Mildred Grosberg Bellin Mildred Grosberg Bellin (September 7, 1908 – February 15, 2008) was an American cookbook author. She is most noted for her influential cookbooks ''Modern Jewish Meals'' and ''The Jewish Cookbook'', which brought modern nutritional ideas into ...

, 1928, cookbook author * Dorothy Hamilton Brush, 1917, author; birth control and women's rights advocate *

Ernestine Gilbreth Carey Ernestine Moller Gilbreth, Mrs. Carey (April 5, 1908 – November 4, 2006) was an American writer. Early life and education Ernestine Moller Gilbreth was born in New York City on April 5, 1908. She was the daughter of Frank B. and Lillian ...

, 1929, author of ''

Cheaper by the Dozen ''Cheaper by the Dozen'' is a semi-autobiographical novel written by Frank Bunker Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey, published in 1948. The novel recounts the authors' childhood lives growing up in a household of 12 children. The bestsel ...

'' *

Ann Downer Ann Downer (1960–2015) was an American writer, principally of fantasy novels for children and young adults, as well as short fiction and poetry. Biography Ann Downer was born in Arlington, Virginia in 1960 and grew up in Manila and Bangko ...

, 1982, writer *

Margaret Edson Margaret "Maggie" Edson (born July 4, 1961) is an American playwright. She is a recipient of the 1999 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for her play ''Wit''. She has been a public school teacher since 1992. Background and education Edson was born in Was ...

, 1983, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright of '' Wit'' * Edith Granger, author of ''Index of Poetry'' * Laurie Ann Guerrero, writer and Texas poet laureate *

Svava Jakobsdóttir Svava Jakobsdóttir (4 October 1930 – 21 February 2004) was one of Iceland's prominent 20th century authors and feminist politicians. Her writing was characterized by "a unique brand of surreal feminism." Her father ''(Hans) Jakob Jónsson''Tor ...

, Icelandic author, politician and women's rights activist *

Piper Kerman Piper Eressea Kerman (born September 28, 1969) is an American author. She was indicted in 1998 on charges of felonious money-laundering activities, and sentenced to 15 months' detention in a federal correctional facility, of which she eventually ...

(class of 1992), author of '' Orange is the New Black'' * Megan Dowd Lambert, 1996, children's book author *

Tosca Lee Tosca Lee (born December 1, 1969) is a bestselling American author known for her historical novels and thrillers. Biography Lee was born in Roanoke, Virginia, United States to a Korean father and Euro-American mother. Her father, Professor Emerit ...

, 1992, best-selling author of ''Demon: A Memoir'' and ''Havah: The Story of Eve'' * Madeleine L'Engle, 1941, Newbery Medal Honor-winning author of ''

A Wrinkle in Time ''A Wrinkle in Time'' is a young adult science fantasy novel written by American author Madeleine L'Engle. First published in 1962, the book won the Newbery Medal, the Sequoyah Book Award, the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award, and was runner-up for ...

'' *

Anne Morrow Lindbergh Anne Spencer Morrow Lindbergh (June 22, 1906 – February 7, 2001) was an American writer and aviator. She was the wife of decorated pioneer aviator Charles Lindbergh, with whom she made many exploratory flights. Raised in Englewood, New Jerse ...

, 1928, author of ''

Gift from the Sea ''Gift from the Sea'' is a book by Anne Morrow Lindbergh first published in 1955. While on vacation on Florida's Captiva Island in the early 1950s, Lindbergh wrote the essay-style work by taking shells on the beach for inspiration and reflecting o ...

'', pioneering aviator, spouse of

Charles Lindbergh Charles Augustus Lindbergh (February 4, 1902 – August 26, 1974) was an American aviator, military officer, author, inventor, and activist. On May 20–21, 1927, Lindbergh made the first nonstop flight from New York City to Paris, a distance o ...

* Pearl London, poet and teacher *

Sarah MacLean Sarah MacLean (born December 23, 1978) is a ''New York Times'' bestselling American author of young adult novels and romance novels. Her first adult romance novel, ''Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake'' debuted on the New York Times Bests ...

, 2000, bestselling author of young adult and romance novels * Annie Russell Marble, 1886, 1895, author and essayist * Ann Matthews Martin, 1977, Newbery Medal Honor-winning author of ''

The Baby-Sitters Club ''The Baby-Sitters Club'' (also known as BSC) is a series of novels written by Ann M. Martin and published by Scholastic between 1986 and 2000, that sold 176 million copies. Martin wrote the first 35 novels in the series, but the subsequent nove ...

'' * Olive Beaupré Miller (née Olive Kennon Beaupré), 1904, author, publisher and editor of children's literature *

Margaret Mitchell Margaret Munnerlyn Mitchell (November 8, 1900 – August 16, 1949) was an American novelist and journalist. Mitchell wrote only one novel, published during her lifetime, the American Civil War-era novel '' Gone with the Wind'', for which she wo ...

, 1922, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of ''

Gone with the Wind Gone with the Wind most often refers to: * ''Gone with the Wind'' (novel), a 1936 novel by Margaret Mitchell * ''Gone with the Wind'' (film), the 1939 adaptation of the novel Gone with the Wind may also refer to: Music * ''Gone with the Wind'' ...

'' (1937); left Smith shortly after her mother's death * Erin Morgenstern, 2000, author of ''

The Night Circus ''The Night Circus'' is a 2011 fantasy novel by Erin Morgenstern. It was originally written for the annual writing competition National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) over the span of three competitions. The novel has a nonlinear narrative wr ...

'' *

Ruth Ozeki Ruth Ozeki is an American-Canadian author, filmmaker and Zen Buddhist priest. Her books and films, including the novels '' My Year of Meats'' (1998), '' All Over Creation'' (2003), '' A Tale for the Time Being'' (2013), and '' The Book of Form ...

, 1980, Japanese-American novelist and filmmaker *

Sylvia Plath Sylvia Plath (; October 27, 1932 – February 11, 1963) was an American poet, novelist, and short story writer. She is credited with advancing the genre of confessional poetry and is best known for two of her published collections, '' Th ...

, 1955, poet, novelist, and author of ''

The Bell Jar ''The Bell Jar'' is the only novel written by the American writer and poet Sylvia Plath. Originally published under the pseudonym "Victoria Lucas" in 1963, the novel is semi-autobiographical with the names of places and people changed. The book ...

'' and ''

Ariel Ariel may refer to: Film and television *Ariel Award, a Mexican Academy of Film award * ''Ariel'' (film), a 1988 Finnish film by Aki Kaurismäki * ''ARIEL Visual'' and ''ARIEL Deluxe'', 1989 and 1991 anime video series based on the novel series ...

'' * Halina Poświatowska, 1961, Polish poet and writer; one of the most important figures in modern Polish literature *

Olive Higgins Prouty Olive Higgins Prouty (10 January 1882 – 24 March 1974) was an American novelist and poet, best known for her 1923 novel '' Stella Dallas'' and her pioneering consideration of psychotherapy in her 1941 novel ''Now, Voyager''. Life and influ ...

, 1904, author of ''

Now, Voyager ''Now, Voyager'' is a 1942 American drama film starring Bette Davis, Paul Henreid, and Claude Rains, and directed by Irving Rapper. The screenplay by Casey Robinson is based on the 1941 novel of the same name by Olive Higgins Prouty. Prouty ...

'' and '' Stella Dallas'' * Anna Chapin Ray, 1885, prolific author of juvenile and adult literature * Cynthia Propper Seton, 1948, novelist, nominated for the

National Book Award The National Book Awards are a set of annual U.S. literary awards. At the final National Book Awards Ceremony every November, the National Book Foundation presents the National Book Awards and two lifetime achievement awards to authors. The Nat ...

Martha Southgate Martha Southgate (born December 12, 1960) is an African-American novelist and essayist best known for her novel '' Third Girl from the Left''. Her work has appeared in ''The New York Times Magazine'', '' O'', ''Premiere'', and ''Essence''. Early ...

, 1982, award-winning author *

Dorothy Hayden Truscott Dorothy Hayden Truscott (November 3, 1925 – July 4, 2006) was an American bridge player, winner of four world championships and the top-ranked woman for many years. In the late 1960s, she authored two books on the game and later co-authored two ...

, international champion bridge player and author *

Yoshiko Uchida Yoshiko Uchida (November 24, 1921 – June 21, 1992) was an award-winning Japanese American writer of children's books based on aspects of Japanese and Japanese American history and culture. A series of books, starting with ''Journey to Topaz'' ...

, 1944, Japanese-American writer * Cynthia Irving Voigt, 1963, Newbury Medal-winning author * J.R. Ward, bestselling author of romance novels *

Diane Wolkstein Diane Wolkstein (November 11, 1942 – January 31, 2013) was a folklorist and author of children's books. She was New York City's official storyteller from 1967 to 1971. Biography As New York's official storyteller beginning in 1967, Wolkstein visi ...

, children's author and folklorist *

Hanya Yanagihara Hanya Yanagihara (born 1974) is an American novelist, editor, and travel writer. She grew up in Hawaii. She is best known for her bestselling novel ''A Little Life'', which was shortlisted for the 2015 Booker Prize, and for being the editor-in-ch ...

, author of ''

A Little Life ''A Little Life'' is a 2015 novel by American writer Hanya Yanagihara. Despite its length and difficult subject matters, it became a critically acclaimed best seller. Structure ''A Little Life'' follows a chronological narrative with flashbacks ...

'' *

Jane Yolen Jane Hyatt Yolen (born February 11, 1939) is an American writer of fantasy, science fiction, and children's books. She is the author or editor of more than 350 books, of which the best known is ''The Devil's Arithmetic'', a Holocaust novella. He ...

, 1963, author and editor of almost 300 books

Business

* Shelly Lazarus (class of 1968), former CEO and chairman of

Ogilvy & Mather Ogilvy is a New York City-based British advertising, marketing, and public relations agency. It was founded in 1850 by Edmund Mather as a London-based advertising agency, agency. In 1964, the firm became known as Ogilvy & Mather after merging wit ...

* Enid Mark, 1954, founder of the ELM Press *

Christine McCarthy Christine McCarthy is an American businesswoman and the chief financial officer (CFO) of The Walt Disney Company. McCarthy reports to chief executive officer Bob Iger Robert Allen Iger (; born February 10, 1951) is an American businessman w ...

, 1977, CFO of

The Walt Disney Company The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney (), is an American multinational mass media and entertainment industry, entertainment conglomerate (company), conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios (Burbank), Walt Disney Stud ...

* Marilyn Carlson Nelson, former chairman and CEO of the

Carlson Companies Carlson is an American privately held company headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota, United States. Its primary subsidiaries are CWT, a travel management company, and Carlson Private Capital Partners, a family office that manages the owners' wea ...

, former chair of the National Women's Business Council * Phebe Novakovic, Chairman and CEO of General Dynamics * Durreen Shahnaz (class of 1989), founder of Impact Investment Exchange (IIX), the world's first social stock exchange

Diplomats and government officials

* Barbara Pierce Bush, 1947, 43rd First Lady of the United States (did not graduate, left college in 1945 to marry George H. W. Bush) * Leecia Eve, 1986, Deputy Secretary for Economic Development in the Executive Chamber of New York Governor, Senior Policy Adviser to U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton during her 2008 primary campaign for President * Judith Fergin, 1973, former

United States Ambassador to East Timor The diplomatic post of United States Ambassador to East Timor (now Timor-Leste) was created after the formalization of the independence of Timor-Leste from Indonesia on May 20, 2002. The United States recognized the new nation immediately, and an ...

Louka Katseli Louka Katseli (Greek: Λούκα Κατσέλη, ; born 20 April 1952) is a Greek economist and politician. Today, she is Professor Emeritus of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Chair of the National Bank of Greece in Cyprus, C ...

, Greek Minister of Economy, Competitiveness and Shipping *

Maria Lopez Maria Lopez (born September 12, 1953) is a Cuban-American former judge and a former television jurist on the syndicated court show, ''Judge Maria Lopez''. Judge Lopez made legal history as the first Latina appointed to the bench in Massachusetts ...

, 1975, Cuban-American former judge and former television jurist * Anne Clark Martindell, former

United States Ambassador to New Zealand The United States has maintained a consular presence in New Zealand since 1838. The first consul was James Reddy Clendon. Born in England, Clendon was a ship owner and merchant who bought land and settled in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand. In 18 ...

Helen Milliken Helen Wallbank Milliken (December 4, 1922 – November 16, 2012) was an American women's rights activist, environmentalist, and former First Lady of Michigan. Milliken, the longest-lived First Lady in Michigan's history (living to 99 years old ...

, 1945, longest-serving First Lady of Michigan * Emily W. Murphy, 1995, Administrator of the

General Services Administration The General Services Administration (GSA) is an independent agency of the United States government established in 1949 to help manage and support the basic functioning of federal agencies. GSA supplies products and communications for U.S. gover ...

* Stephanie Neely, Treasurer of City of

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

Farah Pandith Farah Pandith (born January 13, 1968) is an American academic of Indian descent. She was appointed the first-ever Special Representative to Muslim Communities in June 2009 by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.U.S. Department of State The United States Department of State (DOS), or State Department, is an executive department of the U.S. federal government responsible for the country's foreign policy and relations. Equivalent to the ministry of foreign affairs of other ...

* Thelma Parkinson, 1920, politician, candidate for 1930 special election for the

United States Senate The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and pow ...

, member of the New Jersey State Board of Tax Appeals, member (and later president) of the

New Jersey Civil Service Commission As of 2018, the Chair/CEO, a cabinet-level position, is Deirdrẻ Webster Cobb, Esq., appointed by Governor Phil Murphy in 2018. The New Jersey Civil Service Commission is an independent body within the New Jersey state government under the ausp ...

, 1954–1970 * Nancy Reagan, 1943, 42nd First Lady of the United States *

Sherry Rehman Sherry Rehman ( ur, ; born 21 December 1960) is a Pakistani politician, journalist and former diplomat who has been the member of the Senate of Pakistan since 2015. She was the first female Leader of the Opposition in the Senate from March ...

, former

Pakistan Ambassador to the United States The Pakistan Ambassador to the United States is in charge of the Pakistan Embassy, Washington, D.C. and Pakistan's diplomatic mission to the United States. The official title is Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the United Stat ...

* Mary Scranton, 1940, former First Lady of Pennsylvania (1963–1967) *

Julianna Smoot Julianna Smoot is an American political aide and fundraiser for the Democratic Party. She served as a Deputy Manager of Barack Obama's 2012 presidential reelection campaign, having previously served as White House Social Secretary, Deputy Assista ...

, Deputy Campaign Manager, Obama for America, former

White House Social Secretary The White House social secretary is responsible for the planning, coordination and execution of official social events at the White House, the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Function The social s ...

Senators, congresspersons, and other politicians

* Barbara Adams, General Counsel of Pennsylvania *

Tammy Baldwin Tammy Suzanne Green Baldwin (born February 11, 1962) is an American lawyer and politician who has served as the junior United States senator from Wisconsin since 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, she served three terms in the Wisconsin St ...

, 1984, first openly gay U.S. Senator, former U.S. House of Representative of Wisconsin's 2nd District *

Becca Balint Rebecca A. "Becca" Balint (born May 4, 1968) is an American politician who is a member of the United States House of Representatives from Vermont's at-large congressional district as a member of the Democratic Party. She served as a member of ...

, 1990, Member of the

U.S. House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...

* Deborah Bergamini, 1993, Member of the Italian Parliament *

Leanna Brown Leanna Brown (May 11, 1935 – December 15, 2016) was an American politician who served in both houses of the New Jersey Legislature, where she represented New Jersey's 26th legislative district, including parts of Morris and Passaic Counties. S ...

, 1956, first Republican woman elected to the New Jersey Senate *

Emily Couric Emily Couric (June 5, 1947 – October 18, 2001) was a Virginia Democratic state senator from Charlottesville. Life and career Couric was born to Elinor (Hene) Couric, a homemaker and part-time writer, and John Martin Couric, a public r ...

, 1969, late Virginia State Senator and sister of television journalist

Katie Couric Katherine Anne Couric ( ; born January 7, 1957) is an American journalist and presenter. She is founder of Katie Couric Media, a multimedia news and production company. She also publishes a daily newsletter, ''Wake Up Call''. From 2013 to 2017, ...

Mattie Daughtry Matthea Elisabeth Larsen Daughtry is the Assistant Majority Leader of the Maine Senate. She is a Democrat representing Senate District 23, which serves Brunswick, Chebeague Island, Freeport, Harpswell, Pownal, and part of North Yarmouth. Da ...

, 2009, Democratic Assistant Majority Leader of the

Maine Senate The Maine Senate is the upper house of the Maine Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maine. The Senate currently consists of 35 members representing an equal number of districts across the state, though the Maine Constituti ...

representing the 24th District * Jane Lakes Harman, 1966, President of the

Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (or Wilson Center) is a quasi-government entity and think tank which conducts research to inform public policy. Located in the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Wash ...

, U.S. House of Representative of California's 36th District * Maureen Ogden, 1950, seven-term member of the

New Jersey General Assembly The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature. Since the election of 1967 (1968 Session), the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts f ...

Niki Tsongas Nicola Dickson "Niki" Sauvage Tsongas (; born April 26, 1946) is an American politician who served as a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts from 2007 to 2019. She held the seat formerly held by her husband, the late Paul Tsongas, for the dis ...

, 1968, U.S. House of Representative of Massachusetts's 5th District

Journalism and media

Desiree Akhavan Desiree Akhavan (born December 27, 1984) is an American filmmaker, writer and actress. She is best known for her 2014 feature film debut '' Appropriate Behavior'',Marylin Bender Marylin Bender Altschul (April 25, 1925 – October 19, 2020) was an American journalist and author. Bender worked at the '' New York Journal American,'' ''The New York Times'', and '' Business World''. She is known for being the first female ...

, 1944, first female business editor of ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...

'' * Julia Child, 1934, Primetime Emmy Award and Peabody Award-winning host of ''

The French Chef ''The French Chef'' is an American television cooking show created and hosted by Julia Child, produced and broadcast by WGBH, the public television station in Boston, Massachusetts, from February 11, 1963 to January 14, 1973. It was one of ...

'', renowned chef, and author of ''

Mastering the Art of French Cooking ''Mastering the Art of French Cooking'' is a two-volume French cookbook written by Simone Beck and Louisette Bertholle, both from France, and Julia Child, who was from the United States. The book was written for the American market and publishe ...

'' *

Patience Cleveland Patience Mather Cleveland (May 23, 1931 – May 27, 2004) was an American film and television actress. Biography Cleveland was born in New York City, the youngest of six siblings, to an old established New Hampshire family, where she was raised. ...

, 1952, film and television actress * Stephanie Cutter, co-host of CNN's ''

Crossfire A crossfire (also known as interlocking fire) is a military term for the siting of weapons (often automatic weapons such as assault rifles or sub-machine guns) so that their arcs of fire overlap. This tactic came to prominence in World War I. S ...

'', Chief Spokesperson for the Obama-Biden Transition Project, Senior Advisor for President Obama's Presidential Campaign * Margaret Petherbridge Farrar, 1919, journalist and first crossword puzzle editor for the ''

New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' *

Shirley Fleming Shirley Fleming (1929 in New York City – 10 March 2005) was an American music critic and editor. Biography Born in New York City in 1929, she was the daughter of novelist Berry Fleming, who enjoyed popularity during the 1930s and 1940s wit ...

, music critic and editor *

Anne Froelick Anne Froelick Taylor (December 8, 1913 – January 26, 2010) was an American screenwriter from 1941 to 1950, and later a playwright and novelist. Her screenwriting career ended when she was identified as a communist by two witnesses at a hearin ...

, blacklisted screenwriter *

Meg Greenfield Mary Ellen Greenfield (December 27, 1930 – May 13, 1999), known as Meg Greenfield, was an American editorial writer who worked for the ''Washington Post'' and ''Newsweek''. She was also a Washington, D.C. insider, known for her wit. Greenfield ...

, 1952, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, editorial writer for the ''Washington Post'' and ''Newsweek'' *

Sara Haines Sara Hilary Haines (born September 18, 1977) is an American television host and journalist. She is known as a co-host of the ABC daytime talk shows '' The View'' and ''Strahan, Sara and Keke'' and game show '' The Chase''. She has also worked as ...

, 2000, co-host of '' The View'', ABC News correspondent *

Sarah Hampson Sarah A. Hampson (born May 6, 1958) is a Canadian author, columnist, and journalist. Since 1999, she has been writing for ''The Globe and Mail'', a national Canadian newspaper, with her Interview column being nominated for a National Newspaper Aw ...

, 1979, Canadian journalist and columnist for ''

The Globe and Mail ''The Globe and Mail'' is a Canadian newspaper printed in five cities in western and central Canada. With a weekly readership of approximately 2 million in 2015, it is Canada's most widely read newspaper on weekdays and Saturdays, although it ...

'' * Doan Hoang, 1994, award-winning Vietnamese-American film producer, screenwriter, and director * Ruth Sulzberger Holmberg, 1943, newspaper publisher *

Molly Ivins Mary Tyler "Molly" Ivins (August 30, 1944 – January 31, 2007) was an American newspaper columnist, author, political commentator, and humorist. Born in California and raised in Texas, Ivins attended Smith College and the Columbia Univers ...

, 1966, populist newspaper columnist, political commentator, humorist and bestselling author *

Adrian Nicole LeBlanc Adrian Nicole LeBlanc is an American journalist whose works focus on the marginalized members of society: adolescents living in poverty, prostitutes, women in prison, etc. She is best known for her 2003 non-fiction book '' Random Family''. She wa ...

, 1986, author of '' Random Family'', freelance journalist *

Nina Munk Nina Munk (born 1967) is a Canadian-American journalist and non-fiction author. She is a contributing editor at ''Vanity Fair'', and the author or co-author of four books, including ''The Idealist: Jeffrey Sachs and the Quest to End Poverty'' and ' ...

, 1988, journalist, author, and contributing editor at '' Vanity Fair'' *

Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy ( ur, ; born 12 November 1978) is a Pakistani-Canadian journalist, filmmaker and activist known for her work in films that highlight the inequality with women. She is the recipient of two Academy Awards, seven Emmy Awa ...

, 2002, Pakistan's first Oscar winner, Academy Award and Emmy-winning documentary filmmaker for '' Saving Face'' and journalist * Kate O'Brian, President of Al Jazeera America *

Helaine Olen Helaine Olen is an American journalist based in New York. She is a columnist for ''The Washington Post'' and, before that, '' Slate'', where she wrote the column ''The Bills''. She is the author or co-author of three books, ''Office Mate'' (2007), ...

, journalist and author * Danielle Pletka *

Sally Quinn Sally Sterling Quinn (born July 1, 1941) is an American author and journalist, who writes about religion for a blog at ''The Washington Post''. Early life Sally Quinn was born in Savannah, Georgia, to Lt. General William Wilson "Buffalo Bill" ...

, 1963, author and journalist for ''

The Washington Post ''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large nati ...

'' * Julia Scott, 2002,

NPR National Public Radio (NPR, stylized in all lowercase) is an American privately and state funded nonprofit media organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It differs from other ...

and ''

'' * Anne Mollegen Smith (née Anne Rush Mollegen), 1961, first woman editor-in-chief of '' Redbook'' * Lynne M. Thomas, 1996, Hugo Award-winning science fiction editor and curator *

Cynthia Wade Cynthia Wade is an American television, commercial and film director, producer and cinematographer based in New York City. She has directed documentaries on social issues including '' Shelter Dogs'' in 2003 about animal welfare and ''Freeheld'' i ...

, Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker for ''

Freeheld ''Freeheld'' is a 2015 American drama film directed by Peter Sollett and written by Ron Nyswaner. The film stars Julianne Moore, Elliot Page, Michael Shannon, Steve Carell, and Luke Grimes. It is based on the 2007 documentary short film of the ...

'' *

Erin Cressida Wilson Erin Cressida Wilson (born February 12, 1964) is an American playwright, screenwriter, professor, and author. Wilson is known for the 2002 film ''Secretary'', which she adapted from a Mary Gaitskill short story. It won her the Independent Spirit ...

, screenwriter

Law

Cynthia Bashant Cynthia Ann Bashant (born March 18, 1960) is a United States district judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of California and former judge of the San Diego Superior Court. Early life and education Bashant was born ...

, 1982, judge of the

United States District Court for the Southern District of California The United States District Court for the Southern District of California (in case citations, S.D. Cal.) is a federal court in the Ninth Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are appe ...

* Christine Beshar, 1953, partner at

Cravath, Swaine & Moore Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP (known as Cravath) is an American white-shoe law firm with its headquarters in New York City, and an additional office in London. The firm is known for its complex and high profile litigation and mergers & acquisiti ...

* Joan B. Gottschall, 1969, judge of the

United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (in case citations, N.D. Ill.) is the federal trial-level court with jurisdiction over the northern counties of Illinois. Appeals from the Northern District of Illinois ar ...

Carolyn Dineen King Carolyn Dineen King (born January 30, 1938, in Syracuse, New York) is a Senior United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Her chambers are in Houston, Texas. Education and career Born in Syracuse, ...

, 1959, first female and former judge of the

United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (in case citations, 5th Cir.) is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following federal judicial districts: * Eastern District of Louisiana * M ...

* Dorothy Miner, 1958, chief counsel of the

New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) is the New York City agency charged with administering the city's Landmarks Preservation Law. The LPC is responsible for protecting New York City's architecturally, historically, and cu ...

Jane Richards Roth Jane Richards Roth (born June 16, 1935) is an American attorney and jurist serving as a Senior United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. She was previously a United States district judge of the Unite ...

, 1956, judge of the

United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit The United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (in case citations, 3d Cir.) is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts for the following districts: * District of Delaware * District of New Jersey * East ...

* Stephanie Kulp Seymour, 1962, judge of the

United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit The United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit (in case citations, 10th Cir.) is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts: * District of Colorado * District of Kansas * Distr ...

Philanthropy

* Eunice Blake Bohanon, 1925, children's book editor * Sarina Prabasi, Chief Executive Officer of WaterAid America * Mary Josephine Rogers, 1905, founder of Maryknoll Sisters *

Wendy Schmidt Wendy Susan Schmidt (''née'' Boyle) is an American businesswoman and philanthropist. She is the wife of Eric Schmidt, the former CEO of Google, whom she met in graduate school at the University of California, Berkeley. She is the president of ...

, 1977, President of Schmidt Family Foundation

Pulitzer Prize winners

, 1983, 1999 Drama for '' Wit'' *

, 1978 Editorial Writing *

, 1922, 1937 Novel for ''

'' *

Amy Ellis Nutt Amy Ellis Nutt is a Washington, D.C.-based journalist and a ''New York Times'' bestselling author. She was the recipient of the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing for her reporting at ''The Star-Ledger'' on the 2009 wreck of the Lady Mary f ...

, 1977, 2011 Feature WritingAmy Ellis Nutt
The 2011 Pulitzer Prize Winners (accessed 2015-05-15). *

, 1955, 1982 Poetry for '' The Collected Poems'' (awarded posthumously)

Sciences

* Sara Bache-Wiig, 1918, botanist and mycologist *

Harriet Boyd-Hawes Harriet Ann Boyd Hawes (October 11, 1871 – March 31, 1945) was a pioneering American archaeologist, nurse, relief worker, and professor. She is best known as the discoverer and first director of Gournia, one of the first archaeological excavat ...

, 1892, pioneering archaeologist, nurse and relief worker * Dorcas Brigham, 1918, botanist and horticulturist *

Judy Clapp Judith A. Clapp (born 1930) is a computer scientist who began her career at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and subsequently moved to the Lincoln Laboratory and then to MITRE, where she was a leader in the Semi-Automatic Ground E ...

, 1951, computer scientist * Diane G. Cook, 1965,

Parkinson's disease Parkinson's disease (PD), or simply Parkinson's, is a long-term degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that mainly affects the motor system. The symptoms usually emerge slowly, and as the disease worsens, non-motor symptoms becom ...

patient advocate and researcher * Mary Foster, biochemist * Susan Goldin-Meadow, 1971, developmental psychologist * Betty Hay (1927-2007), cell and developmental biology, M.D. degree from

Johns Hopkins School of Medicine The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (JHUSOM) is the medical school of Johns Hopkins University, a private research university in Baltimore, Maryland. Founded in 1893, the School of Medicine shares a campus with the Johns Hopkins Hospi ...

, first woman to head a department (Anatomy & Cellular Biology) at

Harvard Medical School Harvard Medical School (HMS) is the graduate medical school of Harvard University and is located in the Longwood Medical Area of Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1782, HMS is one of the oldest medical schools in the United States and is consi ...

* Carolyn Kaelin, 1983, breast cancer surgeon *

Helena Chmura Kraemer Helena Chmura Kraemer is an American professor emerita of biostatistics at Stanford University. She is a fellow of the American Statistical Association. Education Helena Chmura Kraemer completed a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics with Phi Beta ...

, biostatistician * Ng'endo Mwangi (Florence), 1961, Kenya's first woman physician * Erin K. O'Shea, sixth President of Howard Hughes Medical Institute * Martha Austin Phelps (1870-1933), chemist * Margaret Robinson, biologist * Caroline Thomas Rumbold (1877–1949), botanist * Florence R. Sabin, 1893, first woman to hold full professorship at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, be elected to National Academy of Sciences, and head a department at the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research * Julia Warner Snow (1863–1927), biologist * Jane Stafford, 1920, chemist * Jane C. Wright, 1942, pioneering oncologist and surgeon

Other notables

* Frances Carpenter, 1912, daughter of photographer Frank Carpenter * Eunice Carter, 1921, first female African-American assistant district attorney for the state of New York, pivotal in the prosecution of Mob Boss Charles "Lucky" Luciano * Penny Chenery, 1943, sportswoman, bred and raced

Secretariat Secretariat may refer to: * Secretariat (administrative office) * Secretariat (horse) Secretariat (March 30, 1970 – October 4, 1989), also known as Big Red, was a champion American thoroughbred racehorse who is the ninth winner of the Ame ...

, the 1973 winner of the Triple Crown *

Julie Nixon Eisenhower Julie Nixon Eisenhower ( Nixon; born July 5, 1948) is an American author who is the younger daughter of former U.S. president Richard Nixon and his wife Pat Nixon. Her husband David is the grandson of former U.S. president Dwight D. Eisenhower ...

, 1970, second daughter of 37th U.S. President

Richard Nixon Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913April 22, 1994) was the 37th president of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a representative and senator from California and was ...

, spent time in prison for killing her boyfriend of 14 years, Herman Tarnower, who was the author of ''The Complete Scarsdale Medical Diet'' *

Jeannie Cho Lee Jeannie Cho Lee (born 1968) is a Hong Kong-based, Korean-American wine critic, author, journalist, consultant, wine educator and Master of Wine, the first ethnic Asian to achieve this accreditation.Pilling, David, ''Financial Times'' (March 05, 2 ...

, first ethnic Asian

Master of Wine Master of Wine (MW) is a qualification (not an academic degree) issued by The Institute of Masters of Wine in the United Kingdom. The MW qualification is generally regarded in the wine industry as one of the highest standards of professional knowle ...

* Ann Axtell Morris, archaeologist, artist, and author who largely worked in the U.S. southwest and Mexico *

Tori Murden Victoria Murden McClure (born March 6, 1963) is an athlete, adventurer, chaplain, lawyer, and university administrator who was the first woman and the first American to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean, which she did in 1999. She was also the fir ...

, 1985, first woman to make a solo crossing of the Atlantic Ocean by rowboat * Tei Ninomiya, 1910, first Asian graduate of Smith College * Charlotte Samuels, swimmer, youngest person to complete the

Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming External links Channel Swimming AssociationChannel Swimming & Piloting FederationCatalina Channel Swimming FederationNew York Open Water
...

* Cathy Schoen, economist at the

New York Academy of Medicine The New York Academy of Medicine (the Academy) is a health policy and advocacy organization founded in 1847 by a group of leading New York metropolitan area physicians as a voice for the medical profession in medical practice and public health ...

, served on U.S. President

Jimmy Carter James Earl Carter Jr. (born October 1, 1924) is an American politician who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the 76th governor of Georgia from 1 ...

's health insurance task force *

Kory Stamper Kory Stamper is a lexicographer and former associate editor for the Merriam-Webster family of dictionaries. She is the author of ''Word by Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries'' (Pantheon, 2017). Early life Stamper grew up in Colorado. She att ...

, 1996, lexicographer and associate editor for the Merriam-Webster dictionary * Sarah Thomas, 1970, research librarian * Shirley Zussman, 1934, sex therapist

Fictional alumnae

Piper Chapman Piper Elizabeth Chapman (played by Taylor Schilling) is the protagonist of the Netflix series ''Orange Is the New Black''. The character is based on Piper Kerman, author of the non-fiction book '' Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Pris ...

, from Netflix Original Series '' Orange Is the New Black'' *

Emily Gilmore Emily Gilmore is a fictional character who appears in the American comedy-drama television series '' Gilmore Girls'' (2000 – 2007) and its revival '' Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life'' (2016) as the matriarch of the eponymous family. Portraye ...

, from the television series ''

Gilmore Girls ''Gilmore Girls'' is an American Comedy drama, comedy-drama television series created by Amy Sherman-Palladino and starring Lauren Graham (Lorelai Gilmore) and Alexis Bledel (Rory Gilmore). The show debuted on October 5, 2000, on The WB and beca ...

'' * Ainsley Hayes, from the television series ''

The West Wing ''The West Wing'' is an American serial political drama television series created by Aaron Sorkin that was originally broadcast on NBC from September 22, 1999, to May 14, 2006. The series is set primarily in the West Wing of the White Hous ...

'' * Joanna Kramer, from the 1979 film ''

Kramer vs. Kramer ''Kramer vs. Kramer'' is a 1979 American legal drama film written and directed by Robert Benton, based on Avery Corman's 1977 novel of the same name. The film stars Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep, Jane Alexander, and Justin Henry. It tells the sto ...

'' *

Selina Meyer Selina Catherine Meyer ( ; née Eaton) is a fictional character portrayed by Julia Louis-Dreyfus on the HBO television comedy series ''Veep''. Louis-Dreyfus has been critically acclaimed for the role, earning a record-breaking six consecutive ...

, from the HBO television series''

Veep ''Veep'' is an American political satire comedy television series that aired on HBO from April 22, 2012, to May 12, 2019. The series was created by Armando Iannucci as an adaptation of his sitcom ''The Thick of It''. The protagonist of ''Veep' ...

'' *

Dr. Cristina Yang Cristina Yang, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.S. is a fictional character from the medical drama television series ''Grey's Anatomy'', which has aired for over 16 years on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) in the United States. The character was cr ...

, from the television series ''

Grey's Anatomy ''Grey's Anatomy'' is an American medical drama television series that premiered on March 27, 2005, on ABC as a mid-season replacement. The series focuses on the lives of surgical interns, residents, and attendings as they develop into s ...

'' * Charlotte York, from the television series ''

Sex and the City ''Sex and the City'' is an American romantic comedy-drama television series created by Darren Star for HBO. An adaptation of Candace Bushnell's newspaper column and 1996 book anthology of the same name, the series premiered in the United Stat ...

Presidents of the College

* Kathleen McCartney (2013–2023) * Carol T. Christ (2002–2013) * John M. Connolly (acting president 2001–2002) * Ruth J. Simmons, first African-American president (1995–2001) *

Mary Maples Dunn Mary Maples Dunn (April 6, 1931 – March 19, 2017) was an American historian. Born in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, Dunn graduated from The College of William & Mary in 1954 and received her Ph.D. from Bryn Mawr College in 1959, where she taught and ...

(1985–1995) * Jill Ker Conway, first woman president (1975–1985) * Thomas C. Mendenhall (1959–1975) * Benjamin Fletcher Wright (1949–1959) * Herbert Davis (1940–1949) * Elizabeth Cutter Morrow (acting president 1939–1940) *

William Allan Neilson William Allan Neilson (28 March 1869 – 1946) was a Scottish-American educator, writer and lexicographer, graduated in the University of Edinburgh in 1891 and became a PhD in Harvard University in 1898. He was president of Smith College betwe ...

(1917–1939) *

Marion LeRoy Burton Marion LeRoy Burton (August 30, 1874 – February 18, 1925) was the second president of Smith College, serving from 1910 to 1917. He left Smith to become president of the University of Minnesota from 1917 to 1920. In 1920 he became president o ...

(1910–1917) WEF *

Laurenus Clark Seelye Laurenus Clark Seelye (September 30, 1837 – October 12, 1924), known as L. Clark Seelye, was the first president of Smith College, serving from 1873 to 1910. He graduated from Union College (NY) in 1857 with Phi Beta Kappa honors and membership ...

(1875–1910)

Notable administrators, faculty and staff (past and present)

Alice Ambrose Alice Ambrose Lazerowitz (November 25, 1906 – January 25, 2001) was an American philosopher, logician, and author. Early life and education Alice Loman Ambrose was born in Lexington, Illinois and orphaned when she was 13 years old. She ...

, professor of philosophy *

Newton Arvin Fredrick Newton Arvin (August 25, 1900 – March 21, 1963) was an American literary critic and academic. He achieved national recognition for his studies of individual nineteenth-century American authors. After teaching at Smith College in N ...

, literary critic *

Leonard Baskin Leonard Baskin (August 15, 1922 – June 3, 2000) was an American sculptor, draughtsman and graphic artist, as well as founder of the Gehenna Press (1942–2000). One of America's first fine arts presses, it went on to become "one of the most imp ...

, artist * Ben Baumer, statistician and sabermetrician * Amy Bernardy, journalist, taught Italian at Smith 1903–1910 * Nina Browne, librarian, archivist, and inventor of

Browne Issue System The Browne Issue System is an old system for loaning library books, developed by Nina Browne in 1895. Overview When a book was borrowed the librarian took one of the reader's borrowing cards and removed the book's own card. The two cards were f ...

Mary Ellen Chase Mary Ellen Chase (24 February 1887 – 28 July 1973) was an American educator, teacher, scholar, and author. She is regarded as one of the most important regional New England literary figures of the early twentieth century. Early life Chase was ...

, professor of English *

Henri Cole Henri Cole (born 1956) is an American poet, who has published many collections of poetry and a memoir. His books have been translated into French, Spanish, Italian, German, and Arabic. Biography Henri Cole was born in Fukuoka, Japan, to an Amer ...

, poet *

Anita Desai Anita Desai, born Anita Mazumdar (born 24 June 1937) is an Indian novelist and the Emerita John E. Burchard Professor of Humanities at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. As a writer she has been shortlisted for the Booker Prize three ti ...

, author * Kim Yi Dionne, political scientist * Donna Robinson Divine * Alfred Einstein, musicologist * Stanley Elkins, professor of history *

Hallie Flanagan Hallie Flanagan Davis (August 27, 1889 in Redfield, South Dakota – June 23, 1969 in Old Tappan, New Jersey) was an American theatrical producer and director, playwright, and author, best known as director of the Federal Theatre Project, a pa ...

, director and playwright *

William Francis Ganong William Francis Ganong, M.A., Ph.D., LL.D., F.R.S.C., (19 February 1864 - 7 September 1941) was a Canadian biologist botanist, historian and cartographer. His botany career was spent mainly as a professor at Smith College in Northampton, Mass ...

, botanist *

Jean Garrigue Jean Garrigue (December 8, 1912 – December 27, 1972) was an American poet. In her lifetime, she received a Guggenheim Fellowship and a nomination for a National Book Award. Life Jean Garrigue was born Gertrude Louise Garrigus in Evansville, ...

, poet *

Judith Gordon Judith Gordon (born 1963, Baltimore, Maryland) is a concert pianist and educator. Education Gordon studied at Oberlin Conservatory and at New England Conservatory where she studied with Patricia Zander. New York debut Gordon gave her New York r ...

, pianist * Domenico Grasso, founding director, Picker Engineering Program *

Heloise Hersey Heloise Edwina Hersey (1855-1933) was an American scholar of Anglo-Saxon language and literature. A graduate of Vassar College and the first female professor of Anglo-Saxon studies in the United States, she was appointed at Smith College in 1878. ...

, professor of English *

Helen Lefkowitz Horowitz Helen Lefkowitz Horowitz (born 31 Jan. 1942) is an American historian and the Sydenham Clark Parsons Professor of American Studies and History, emerita, at Smith College. Early life and education Horowitz was born on 31 Jan. 1942 in Shreveport, ...

, historian *

Denis Johnston (William) Denis Johnston (18 June 1901 – 8 August 1984) was an Irish writer. Born in Dublin, he wrote mostly plays, but also works of literary criticism, a book-length biographical essay of Jonathan Swift, a memoir and an eccentric work on co ...

, professor of philosophy *

Klemens von Klemperer Klemens Wilhelm von Klemperer (November 2, 1916 – December 23, 2012) was a historian of modern Europe and professor at Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts. He was a prominent member of the generation of young refugees and emigrants who ...

, professor of history * Karen Klinger, rower and Smith crew head coach *

Kurt Koffka Kurt Koffka (March 12, 1886 – November 22, 1941) was a German psychologist and professor. He was born and educated in Berlin, Germany; he died in Northampton, Massachusetts from coronary thrombosis. He was influenced by his maternal uncle, ...

, psychologist *

G. E. Moore George Edward Moore (4 November 1873 – 24 October 1958) was an English philosopher, who with Bertrand Russell, Ludwig Wittgenstein and earlier Gottlob Frege was among the founders of analytic philosophy. He and Russell led the turn from ideal ...

, professor of philosophy (1940-1941) * Barry Moser, artist and illustrator *

, poet *

Eric Reeves Eric Reeves (born 1950) is an American academic who is professor ''emeritus'' of English Language and Literature at Smith College in Northampton Northampton () is a market town and civil parish in the East Midlands of England, on the Rive ...

, professor of English * Laura Woolsey Lord Scales, Dean of Students (1923–1944) *

Roger Sessions Roger Huntington Sessions (December 28, 1896March 16, 1985) was an American composer, teacher and musicologist. He had initially started his career writing in a neoclassical style, but gradually moved further towards more complex harmonies and ...

, composer *

David Staines David McKenzie Staines, (born August 8, 1946) is a Canadian literary critic, university professor, writer, and editor. Staines was born in Toronto, Ontario, and studied at the University of Toronto, where he obtained a BA in 1967, and at Harv ...

, literary critic *

David Peck Todd David Peck Todd (March 19, 1855 — June 1, 1939) was an American astronomer. He produced a complete set of photographs of the 1882 transit of Venus. Biography Todd was born in Lake Ridge, New York, the son of Sereno Edwards Todd and Rhoda (Pec ...

, astronomer *

Thomas Tymoczko A. Thomas Tymoczko (September 1, 1943August 8, 1996) was a philosopher specializing in logic and the philosophy of mathematics. He taught at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts from 1971 until his death from stomach cancer in 1996, aged 52. ...

, philosopher *

Kurt Vonnegut Kurt Vonnegut Jr. (November 11, 1922 – April 11, 2007) was an American writer known for his satirical and darkly humorous novels. In a career spanning over 50 years, he published fourteen novels, three short-story collections, five plays, and ...

, author *

Allen Weinstein Allen Weinstein (September 1, 1937 – June 18, 2015) was an American historian, educator, and federal official who served in several different offices. He was, under the Reagan administration, cofounder of the National Endowment for Democracy in ...

, Archivist of the United States * Eleanor Wilner, poet and editor *

Dorothy Maud Wrinch Dorothy Maud Wrinch (12 September 1894 – 11 February 1976; married names Nicholson, Glaser) was a mathematician and biochemical theorist best known for her attempt to deduce protein structure using mathematical principles. She was a champion o ...

, mathematician * Chien-Shiung Wu, physicist * Andrew Zimbalist, economist

References

{{Seven Sisters *