Valerie Smith (academic) facts for kids

Valerie Smith was born on February 19, 1956. She is an American academic leader, a professor, and an expert in African-American literature and culture. She is currently the 15th president of Swarthmore College.

Before leading Swarthmore, she taught at Princeton University from 1980 to 1989. She also taught at the University of California, Los Angeles from 1989 to 2000. In 2000, Ms. Smith returned to Princeton. There, she became a special professor of Literature and led the African American Studies program.

From 2006 to 2009, she helped start and direct Princeton's Center for African American Studies. In July 2011, Princeton's president, Shirley Tilghman, chose Ms. Smith to be the Dean of the College at Princeton. This role meant she was in charge of all undergraduate student programs.

Ms. Smith left Princeton after 24 years. She became the president of Swarthmore College in July 2015. She officially started her role in October of that year.

Early Life and Education

Valerie Smith was born in Manhattan, New York. She grew up in Brooklyn with her parents and two younger siblings. Her father, W. Reeves Smith, was a biology professor. Her mother, Josephine Smith, was a public school teacher. Both her parents moved to New York from Charleston, South Carolina. They were looking for more opportunities.

Ms. Smith shared in an interview that her parents' willingness to explore new things inspired her. She said it made her "willing to take chances." She also talked about how her childhood shaped her. She grew up in a family that valued learning. Living in Brooklyn, she enjoyed the many cultural experiences of a big city.

Smith went to Midwood High School in Brooklyn. At age 15, she started college at Bates College. She studied English literature and graduated with high honors in 1975. She called her time at Bates "nurturing." While there, she studied abroad at Oxford University in England. She said this was one of the most important experiences of her life. It made her love to travel and gave her confidence to adapt to new cultures. Ms. Smith earned her master's and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Virginia.

Early Career in Academia

Ms. Smith started teaching at Princeton University in 1980. She taught English and African-American Studies. In 1989, she joined the faculty at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She became a full professor there in 1994. At UCLA, she helped lead the English department's graduate studies. She also chaired the African American Studies program.

Leadership at Princeton University

Ms. Smith returned to Princeton in 2001. She became a special professor of Literature, English, and African American Studies. She was asked to direct the university’s Program in African American Studies. In 2006, this program became the Center for African American Studies (CAAS).

As director of CAAS, Ms. Smith started new lecture series. She also created programs for visiting scholars and postdoctoral fellows. She helped the CAAS grow into a leading center for teaching and research on race. In 2004, she gave the main speech for Princeton’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day event.

In 2010, Ms. Smith was named Princeton's Dean of the College. She started this role in July 2011. As dean, she managed all parts of Princeton's undergraduate program. This included classes, student advising, and admissions. She also oversaw financial aid and student housing.

Ms. Smith made several important changes. She removed strict number goals for grading. She worked to increase the number of students from different economic backgrounds. She also created a program for students to exchange with international colleges. She also started the Office of Undergraduate Research at Princeton.

On February 21, 2015, Swarthmore College announced that Ms. Smith would be its next president. She officially took the role on July 1, 2015. She stayed at Princeton until June of that year.

Leading Swarthmore College

Swarthmore College's Parrish Hall, where a reception was held after Ms. Smith's inauguration.

In February 2015, the leaders of Swarthmore College chose Valerie Smith as their next president. She started her new job on July 1, 2015. She also began teaching English Literature and Black Studies at the college.

Inauguration Ceremony

On October 3, 2015, Ms. Smith officially became the 15th President of Swarthmore College. Many speakers at her inauguration talked about racial differences in the U.S. and in schools. This was because she was the first African-American president of the college.

The president of Brown University at the time, Ruth Simmons, spoke about this. She said that unfairness based on race and gender still exists. She noted it would affect Ms. Smith's daily experiences. To a large crowd of 1,200 people, Ms. Smith shared her thoughts. She explained how having different people makes a community better. She said that learning and solving problems are improved when people with different views work together.

Presidency (2015–present)

Student Life Initiatives

In late October 2015, Ms. Smith started a program called "Dinner with 12 Strangers." This idea came from UCLA. It brings together people from the college community for a meal. This helps students and staff connect with each other.

In March 2016, she wrote an article in the college newspaper. It was about a letter that questioned if some board members had conflicts of interest. The original letter suggested that board members with financial ties should not vote on certain issues. Ms. Smith stated that these claims were "unfounded" and "distorted." She added that the college leaders are committed to climate action. She explained that the college would not sell off its investments in fossil fuels. This was because the board needed to make sure there were enough funds for future students.

College Funding and Growth

Swarthmore College has one of the largest endowments in the country. An endowment is a large fund of money that helps support the college. Under Ms. Smith's leadership, this fund has grown a lot. It increased from $1.747 billion in 2016 to $2.72 billion by 2023.

In 2023, the endowment provided $111.2 million for Swarthmore's budget. This covered more than half of the college's operating costs. A strong endowment allows Swarthmore to offer "need-blind admission." This means the college accepts students without looking at their financial situation. It also provides financial aid that covers 100% of a student's needs, without requiring loans.

On April 6, 2017, Ms. Smith announced a fundraising campaign. It was called "Changing Lives, Changing the World." The goal was to raise $450 million.

Academic Outreach and Views

In September 2016, Ms. Smith was featured in Washington Monthly. She talked about the debate on youth incarceration. She asked a powerful question: "How many of the men who are in this facility... are there because the educational system failed to engage them intellectually?"

On February 17, 2017, Ms. Smith was interviewed by The New York Times. She discussed Swarthmore's place among colleges. She also talked about new students and her leadership style. She believes in creating a team where people trust each other. She wants them to feel confident sharing their ideas.

Personal Life

Valerie Smith lives in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. She used to be a member of the Bates College Board of Trustees. She served there from 2004 to 2015. She currently serves on several other boards. These include the American Council on Education and the National Museum of the American Indian.

Awards and Recognitions

Ms. Smith has received many fellowships. These include awards from the Guggenheim Foundation. In 2009, she won Princeton's President's Award for Distinguished Teaching. This award recognizes excellent teaching.

In 2016, she received an honorary Doctor of Letters degree. This was from Hong Kong Baptist University. She also gave a lecture there about liberal arts education. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. She is also part of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

In 2024, Ms. Smith received the Benjamin Chandler Legacy Award. She was also named an Honorary Fellow for life at Harris Manchester College, Oxford University.

She has also served on the editorial boards for several academic journals. These include Women's Studies Quarterly and African American Review.

Selected Works

Valerie Smith has written three books. These include Self-Discovery and Authority in Afro-American Narrative (1987). Her other books are Not Just Race, Not Just Gender: Black Feminist Readings (1998) and Toni Morrison: Writing the Moral Imagination (2012). She has also edited or co-edited seven other books. She has written over forty articles.

See also

• List of Bates College people
• List of University of Virginia people
• List of Swarthmore College people
• History of Princeton University