Speeches & Media

Articles, Op Eds and Letters to the Editor

• The New York Times, February 22, 2023: "Don Lemon’s Comment About Women" (letter to the editor)
• The New York Times, June 28, 2022: "Deeply Concerned": 6 College Presidents on the Abortion Ruling (letter to the editor)
• Inside Higher Ed, February 22, 2022: 5 Steps New Presidents Should Take
• Higher Education Today, October 26, 2021: Smith College Replaces Student Loans With Grants, Making Access and Equity a Priority
• Trusteeship, May/June 2021: Equalizing the Student Experience
• Newsweek, September 21, 2020: COVID-19 Is Exposing the Child Care Crisis. And Grandparents Aren’t the Solution (op-ed)
• Daily Hampshire Gazette, July 30, 2020: Please wear a mask (op-ed)
• The New York Times, June 17, 2020: When Students Return to Campus (letter to the editor)
• The New York Times, April 29, 2020: Colleges Running Low on Money Worry Students Will Vanish, Too (letter to the editor)
• Thrive Global, January 20, 2020: Smith College President Kathleen McCartney on How She Course-Corrects from Stress
• Thrive Global, December 19, 2019: Why Gen Z Activists Are the Leaders of Tomorrow
• The New York Times, July 30, 2019: Feminist T-Shirts: The Medium Is the Message (letter to the editor)
• The New York Times, February 26, 2019: Quotas for Women: A Step Toward Equality (letter to the editor)
• The New York Times, November 22, 2018: Bloomberg’s Gift to College Students (letter to the editor)
• The New York Times, September 15, 2018: Is Technology Harming Teenagers? (letter to the editor)
• The New York Times, May 26, 2018: Weighing the Value of College (letter to the editor)
• Gratefulness.org, May 14, 2018: The Deepening of Gratitude Practice
• Inside Higher Ed, May 9, 2018: Higher Ed’s Role in Addressing School Violence
• The Wall Street Journal, January 18, 2018: The College Endowment Tax Is a Bad Proposal (letter to the editor) (full text)
• Daily Hampshire Gazette, January 16, 2018: Impact of Tax Plan on Liberal Arts Colleges (letter to the editor)
• The New York Times, January 3, 2018: Is Identity Politics the New Tribalism? (letter to the editor)
• The New York Times, July 24, 2017: Tackling Gender Stereotypes (letter to the editor)
• Newsweek, July 23, 2017: Why is Trump Stopping Poor Students from Going to Top Schools? (op-ed)
• The Chronicle of Higher Education, June 18, 2017: Presidents Share What’s Worked
• The Chronicle of Higher Education, April 17, 2017: Closing the Gap for First-Generation Students
• The New York Times, March 3, 2017: Calling Out Sexism (letter to the editor)
• The New York Times, November 16, 2016: For Women, Glass Ceilings, and Glass Walls, Too (editorial)
• The New York Times, October 31, 2016: Improve College Rankings (letter to the editor)
• Worth.com, August 25, 2016: Paid Parental Leave Isn’t Just the Right Thing to Do—It’s Good Business
• The Chronicle of Higher Education, July 31, 2016: What I'm Reading: “A Tale for the Time Being”
• The New York Times, July 12, 2016: How to Fund Child Care (letter to the editor)
• The New York Times, February 9, 2016: College Admissions Reform: A Needed Conversation (letter to the editor)
• Worth.com, December 29, 2015: How to Make Your Passion Your Vocation
• Ming Pao, December 21, 2015: Women in Leadership Can Bring Society Benefits
• Daily Hampshire Gazette, November 5, 2015: There Is Good Reason for Independent Colleges to be Tax-exempt
• The New York Times, November 2, 2015: Today’s Students Have a New Way of Looking at Free Speech
• The Wall Street Journal, July 29, 2015: Transgender Women Welcome at Smith (letter to the editor)
• The Boston Globe, May 6, 2015: Time to Rethink Our Social Construct of Motherhood
• The New York Times, February 16, 2015: Bias in the Workplace (letter to the editor)
• CNN.com, September 4, 2014: Is Free Speech at Risk at Our Universities?
• The New York Times, September 1, 2014: Leveling the College Playing Field (letter to the editor)
• The New York Times, May 4, 2014: For Top Jobs, Qualified Women Are Everywhere (letter to the editor)
• CNN.com, March 24, 2014: Happy 80th, Gloria Steinem
• LeanIn.Org, August 25, 2013: Smith President to Female Freshmen: Don’t Lean Back
• The New York Times, August 6, 2013: Helping the Poor Go to Good Colleges (letter to the editor)
• CNN.com, March 15, 2013: It's "Working Parents," Not Just Mothers

Media Coverage & Interviews

• Inside Higher Ed, February 7, 2022: For Students’ Extra Needs
• MarketWatch: Best New Ideas in Money (podcast), January 13, 2022: Here's what could happen if we canceled all student debt
• Marketplace, November 5, 2021: Smith College is the latest school to go no-loan, targeting student debt
• Los Angeles Times, May 6, 2021: How a pandemic year of loss reshaped Maya Lin’s art and architecture
• New York Times, March 17, 2021: For Maya Lin, A Victory Lap Gives Way to Mourning
• The Hill, August 28, 2020: College Reopenings Test Town-and-Gown Relations
• Inside Higher Ed, August 10, 2020: Keep Campus Closed—What Higher Ed is Too Afraid to Say
• The Korea Herald, December 3, 2019: Women’s Colleges Relevant in World Where Men Enjoy Privileges
• University World News, September 21, 2018: Make Campuses Great Centres of Civil Discourse Again
• Inside Higher Ed, June 27, 2018: From Community College to a Selective University
• Revista Ya, El Mercurio (Chile), January 30, 2018: The Cult of Perfect Motherhood (translation) (View a PDF)
• Make It Better, August 2, 2017: Six Empowering Tips for Every Woman From Smith College President Kathleen McCartney
• The Daily Northwestern, May 11, 2017: Smith College President Speaks on Importance of Women in Leadership, Continuing Fight Against Sexism
• Boston Business Journal, September 29, 2016 Women of Influence: Smith College President Kathleen McCartney Sees School's Continuing Innovation
• Asahi Shimbun Globe, March 5, 2016: Is a Women’s College Needed? (PDF)
• Nikkei Dual, January 29, 2016: Still a “Glass Ceiling” for Women
• Hong Kong Economic Times, December 28, 2015: Women Receive Less Favorable Treatment in Workplace
• The Korea Herald, December 7, 2015: Liberal Arts Education Translates Into Better Jobs
• NPR, May 14, 2014: As More Speakers Get the Boot, Who’s Left to Send Off Graduates?
• The Chronicle of Higher Education, May 1, 2014: Once a First-Generation Student, Now a College President

• Leading College Presidents Express Support for Women Fighting for Freedom and Rights
• The New York Times, June 28, 2022: "Deeply Concerned": 6 College Presidents on the Abortion Ruling (letter to the editor)
• A Letter from Five College Leaders to the U.S. Department of Education, September 25, 2019
• Remarks at Ivy Day, May 18, 2019
• Presidents’ Letter to Senators Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey (PDF)
• Presidents’ Letter to Congressman Richard Neal (PDF)
• Remarks to the Smith and Amherst Black Alumnae/i Mini Reunion, October 6, 2018
• Statement on Family Separation, June 21, 2018
• Questions and Answers: Remarks at Ivy Day, May 19, 2018
• Letter to Congressional Leadership Regarding the Endowment Tax, March 7, 2018 (PDF)
• Remarks at the Installation of Barnard College President Sian Leah Beilock, February 9, 2018
• College and University Presidents Urge Congress to Pass Legislation Protecting Dreamers, October 19, 2017
• Letter Calls on Congress to Tie Pell Grant to Inflation, July 25, 2017
• We Are Still In: Open Letter to the International Community and Parties to the Paris Agreement, June 5, 2017
• We Are the Stories We Live and Tell: Remarks at Ivy Day, May 20, 2017
• 30 College and University Presidents Endorse Carbon Price, May 9, 2017
• Letter From College and University Presidents to President Trump About “Dreamers,” March 16, 2017
• Letter From College and University Presidents to Homeland Security Secretary on President's Immigration Executive Order, February 3, 2017
• Letter from Higher Education Leaders on Climate Action, December 20, 2016
• Higher Education Leaders Urge Continuation of DACA, November 21, 2016
• An Open Letter to Stephen Bannon from the Seven Sisters Presidents, November 21, 2016
• Presidents’ Open Letter to the President-Elect, November 18, 2016
• Welcoming Remarks at the Inauguration of Wellesley College President Paula Johnson, Friday, September 30, 2016
• Remarks at Ivy Day, May 14, 2016
• Smith Responds to Congressional Letter on Endowments, April 1, 2016 (PDF)
• Remarks at a Town Hall Forum, November 23, 2015
• Remarks at Ivy Day, May 16, 2015
• Remarks at a Campus Gathering Following the Ferguson Ruling, November 25, 2014
• Remarks at Opening Convocation, September 3, 2014
• On Saving—and Savoring—the World: Remarks at Ivy Day, May 17, 2014
• Remarks to the Senior Class at Baccalaureate, May 15, 2014
• Statement on American Studies Association Resolution, December 24, 2013
• Remarks to the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce “Incite Leadership” Breakfast, December 17, 2013
• Inaugural Address: “Busy Being Born,” October 19, 2013
• Remarks at Opening Convocation, September 2, 2013
• Welcome Panel for New Students and Families, August 28, 2013
• Address to Alumnae, August 20, 2013
• Address to the Graduating Class of the School for Social Work, August 16, 2013
• A Video Greeting to the Smith Community, July 1, 2013
• Welcome Message to the Smith Community, January 25, 2013

• Smith Alumnae Quarterly, Winter 2023: Smith at Its Best
• Smith Alumnae Quarterly, Fall 2022: Poetry of Life
• Smith Alumnae Quarterly, Summer 2022: Uncertainty Is Part of the Human Condition
• Smith Alumnae Quarterly, Winter 2022: Bridging the Divide
• Smith Alumnae Quarterly, Fall 2021: Writing for Change
• Smith Alumnae Quarterly, Summer 2021: Reflections on July 31, 2018, and Moving Forward
• Smith Alumnae Quarterly, Spring 2021: Lessons From the Pandemic
• Smith Alumnae Quarterly, Winter 2020–21: Toward Education Equality
• Smith Alumnae Quarterly, Fall 2020: Voting Rights for All Women
• Smith Alumnae Quarterly, Summer 2020: Community in the Time of COVID-19
• Smith Alumnae Quarterly, Spring 2020: A Planet in Crisis Demands Our Best
• Smith Alumnae Quarterly, Winter 2019: Cromwell Family Legacy of Excellence
• Smith Alumnae Quarterly, Fall 2019: Parenting in the Age of Information Overload
• Smith Alumnae Quarterly, Summer 2019: Access Equals Excellence
• Smith Alumnae Quarterly, Spring 2019: Launching a New Generation of Leaders
• Smith Alumnae Quarterly, Winter 2018: A Life, In Chapters
• Smith Alumnae Quarterly, Fall 2018: Careers By Design
• Smith Alumnae Quarterly, Summer 2018: Questions and Answers
• Smith Alumnae Quarterly, Spring 2018: Standing Up to Workplace Harassment
• Smith Alumnae Quarterly, Winter 2017: The Joys of Mountain Day
• Smith Alumnae Quarterly, Fall 2017: Good Ideas Move the College Forward
• Smith Alumnae Quarterly, Summer 2017: How to Close the Success Gap
• Smith Alumnae Quarterly, Spring 2017: We Set Records, Thanks to You
• Smith Alumnae Quarterly, Winter 2016: “At Smith, We Call It Leadership”
• Smith Alumnae Quarterly, Fall 2016: Neilson’s New Century
• Smith Alumnae Quarterly, Summer 2016: Where Families Can Thrive
• Smith Alumnae Quarterly, Spring 2016: A New Generation of Dissent
• Smith Alumnae Quarterly, Winter 2015: A Heritage of Leadership
• Smith Alumnae Quarterly, Fall 2015: Great Stories Live in Museums
• Smith Alumnae Quarterly, Summer 2015: Power of Gratitude
• Smith Alumnae Quarterly, Spring 2015: Building Business Leaders
• Smith Alumnae Quarterly, Winter 2014: Beyond the Playing Field
• Smith Alumnae Quarterly, Fall 2014: Challenging the Ideological Echo Chamber
• Smith Alumnae Quarterly, Summer 2014: Hearing All Voices
• Smith Alumnae Quarterly, Spring 2014: Hope for an Equal Chance
• Smith Alumnae Quarterly, Fall 2013: A Community Unlike Any Other