New Swarthmore president has a plan: listen, think, communicate

Swarthmore College's new president has a plan for dealing with a student body known for its vocal activism: Listen carefully to the students. Craft a careful, well-researched response. Communicate with them.

"It's critically important to maintain open dialogue with students," said Valerie Smith, 59, who on Saturday was inaugurated as the first African American president of Swarthmore, one of the most prestigious and selective colleges in the country.

Smith, an English and African American studies scholar who formerly served as dean of the college at Princeton University, took over at the 1,500-student college in July, replacing Rebecca Chopp, who now heads the University of Denver.

In recent years, Swarthmore students have voiced concerns over the college's handling of sexual assault and harassment. They also have called on Swarthmore to divest the fossil-fuels portion of its $1.9 billion endowment. Students last spring staged a 32-day sit-in at the college's Parrish Hall to get the college's board of trustees to divest. The board ultimately did not make a change.

Stephen O'Hanlon, a junior political science and sociology/anthropology major from Downingtown and a leader of the student's divestment movement, said he hoped Smith would help students make progress on the issue.

"My understanding is that she is in a learning and exploration phase now," said O'Hanlon, 20.

He said he liked what he had heard from Smith on other issues.

"I am excited about her focus on how Swarthmore can be a better neighbor and can support social justice, both on campus and off," he said.

Several faculty members said they were excited about Smith's leadership.

Before she sat down to meet about two dozen members of the biology department, she went around and shook each person's hand and said hello. That went a long way, said Amy Cheng Vollmer, department chair.

"It just kind of made people feel like they were the only one in the room for that moment," Vollmer said. "That really is a symptom of a terrific leader who really wants to connect with everyone."

Smith, a Brooklyn native, is the daughter of a retired elementary school teacher and a retired biology professor. She got her bachelor's at Bates College and her master's and doctorate from the University of Virginia.

She said she has formed some priorities:

Increasing financial aid. That will be a priority in a capital campaign.

Faculty development in areas such as technology.

Increasing diversity of the student body, racially, socioeconomically, geographically, religiously, and politically.

Investing in campus buildings. Plans are underway for a new building to house biology, engineering, and psychology and to allow greater collaboration among those disciplines.

Strengthening partnerships with businesses and government across the region. She wants to look for more ways to get college students and staff involved in surrounding communities.

ssnyder@phillynews.com

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