Our Staff
The staff at the Center for Religious & Spiritual Life are here for you. We want the Center to be your space for religious and spiritual growth and fulfillment. Whether it’s celebrating a holiday or holy day, finding funding for a speaker or event, getting support for life challenges, or looking for faith-based community, we’re here to help. You can contact us with the information below, drop by the chapel during our open hours, or make an appointment.
Matilda Cantwell
Director of Religious & Spiritual Life and College Chaplain
mcantwel@smith.edu
413-585-4595
Helen Hills Hills Chapel B12
Matilda Cantwell serves as College Chaplain and Director of Religious and Spiritual Life, providing individual and group spiritual care, and shepherding the community through times of both joy and struggle. Matilda oversees college vigils and college rituals such as baccalaureate, and officiates memorials and celebrations. Prior to her ordination in the United Church of Christ, she worked as a therapist and community organizer with underserved and unhoused populations and led outdoor and creative writing groups for youth. Her ministry has included developing an innovative spiritual formation group for children and teens and outreach in rural communities. Matilda has a Bachelor’s Degree in Religious Studies with a minor in English from Lewis and Clark College, a Master’s in Social Work from Smith College, and a Master’s in Divinity from Yale University.
Maureen Raucher
Operations and Finance Manager: Adviser to the Christian and Humanist Communities
mraucher@smith.edu
413-585-2754
Helen Hills Hills Chapel B7
Maureen is a program coordinator for the Center for Religious and Spiritual Life. She has worked at Smith since 2002 and now advises student religious organizations on funding, event planning and logistics. Maureen supervises and manages our programs and events, acting as the building liaison with students groups, college departments and public program planners. She supports the director, the Steinem Initiative and Smith's community religious advisers. Maureen has a bachelor of science degree from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.
Kim Alston
Program and Communications Manager; Muslim Student Adviser
kalston@smith.edu
413-585-2753
Helen Hills Hills Chapel B6
Kim Alston manages CRSL programs, special projects and its communications strategy. She has served the College for 14 years, working on equity and inclusion issues. She advises Muslim students and student secular and religious organizations, such as Al Iman, the Muslim student organization and the IntraMuslim Diversity Committee. Kim is fascinated with the intersection of Islamic religiosity, spirituality, culture and history. She is passionate about developing programming that supports religious literacy, encourages curiosity and addresses student interests. She received her undergraduate degree from Boston University and holds a Master’s in public administration from Clark University. She is currently studying Islamic Chaplaincy at Hartford International University for Religion and Peace. Her greatest desire is to support students on their spiritual path.
Rabbi Noam Lerman
Jewish Student Adviser
nlerman@smith.edu
Helen Hills Hills Chapel B14
Rabbi Noam Lerman (they/them) is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and was ordained at Hebrew College in June 2020. Noam has acted as a chaplain for elders, incarcerated and previously incarcerated individuals fighting for survival and healing. They are the founder of Sha’arey Ometz Gates of Resilience, an online-based Jewish spiritual community, and they facilitate Tzelem-Boston, which is a group for Jewish trans, nonbinary and genderqueer teens. They are one of the organizers and co-founders of Let My People Sing!, an intergenerational and liberatory Jewish singing retreat. Noam is a musician, Hebrew scribe, Restorative Justice Circle Keeper, and they deeply enjoy spending time in nature.
Anna Ostow
Contemplative Practice, Mindfulness, and Social Change Facilitator
aostow@smith.edu
Helen Hills Hills Chapel B14
Anna Ostow (she/they) is the Contemplative Practice, Mindfulness, and Social Change facilitator at the Center for Religious and Spiritual Life, as well as the Sotomayor Fellow at the Smith School for Social Work. She leads programs at the intersections of spirituality, mindfulness, and social change for students, staff, and faculty, and supports the CRSL in a range of other communications and program coordination roles. Anna is a certified somatic coach, holds a masters from the Starr King School for the Ministry, and particularly counts Robert Horton, Janet Carter, Meredith Broome, J. Tyson Casey, and the entire UNtraining community as her teachers. Please email Anna to set up an appointment.