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Mass. women’s college gifted $51 million from 1979 graduate
The bequest will provide financial assistance and fund two faculty positions.
Smith College has received its largest planned gift in history — a $51 million anonymous bequest. The generous donation will bolster financial aid, as well as fund two faculty positions in engineering and statistical and data sciences.
The bequest is from an anonymous alum from the class of 1979.
In a statement, the alum said that increasing financial aid “will allow young women from all economic backgrounds to realize their biggest dreams for education opportunity, permitting them to make a difference in their local communities, in their nations, and in the advancement of humankind worldwide.”
The alum added that it is crucial for women to excel in technology, especially in engineering and computing, which is why they funded the two faculty positions.
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President Sarah Willie-LeBreton announced the news to the community Thursday, saying, “The generosity and care Smith alums have for future generations of Smithies is incredible to witness.”
“Scholarships light the path to Smith for so many remarkable, high-achieving students,” she continued. “Access matters and a bequest of this magnitude is an affirmation of Smith’s commitment to access, affordability, and equity.”
Founded in 1871, Smith College is an all-women’s school in Northampton. According to its website, the college enrolls more than 2,500 students and offers over 1,000 courses in 83 areas of study.
The announcement said that nearly 70% of Smith College’s students receive institutional financial aid, 18% receive federal Pell Grants, and 17% are first-generation college students.
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“Smith’s financial aid commitment strives not only to provide access to Smith, but to remove barriers to the Smith experience for current students, and ensure access to post-graduation opportunities without the burden of packaged student loans,” said Joanna May, vice president for enrollment, in a statement.
Gift planning dates back to 1871, when the college was first established through Sophia Smith’s generosity. As stated in her will, she wanted the college to be “a perennial blessing to the country and world.”
The gift began a tradition of alumni and friends supporting the college through their estate plans.
Kathleen Johnson, chair of the Grécourt Society, said that “this incredible bequest intention and the collective impact of planned gifts are a powerful reminder of the strength of the network of over 54,000 Smithies.”
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