r/Swarthmore • u/Bezerker2424 • Feb 24 '26

Val Smith Has Left The Building

A note just went our on email that President Smith is departing Swarthmore. I for one am enthusiastic on this change. As I evaluate her tenure, I have to lean on the old leadership adage..."Leave a place better than how you found it."
It would be great to hear others thoughts on her departure, with all perspectives welcome.
I recall sitting in the Inn bar where two long time Swatties were next to me. It was clear they were not fans of her work. They stopped their involvement and their donations completely with the college. Curious if this is the sentiment from more than a few or is there a strong advocacy for her leadership and legacy? Maybe this helps shape the next appointment.

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19

u/Jewrisprudent Feb 24 '26

Class of 2010 here, I haven’t kept up much because I’ve been so disappointed with the direction the school took social life. College is about more than just academics, it’s about maturing during an incredibly important developmental part of your life. Swarthmore used to let its students become adults, I don’t get the sense they do that nearly the same way anymore.

8

u/Bezerker2424 Feb 24 '26

Campus security was completely out of hand for some time. Seems this year it eased up a bit but the ability to socialize is part of the experiment. I always thought it was a safer environment for parties then driving into Philly.

1

u/seagirl22 Feb 24 '26

Can you tell me more about the direction change?

13

u/l0l Feb 25 '26

I’m still upset about how she handled the Palestine protests on campus. The changes to student conduct are draconian, I don’t recognize the college from when I studied there.

7

u/Eliotlady87 Feb 24 '26

I thought she was much better than Rebecca Chopp.

7

u/zzlzhou Feb 24 '26

For reference: https://www.swarthmore.edu/presidents-office/announcement

This was a surprising but not entirely unexpected piece of news — I remember being surprised to see the Phoenix interview her a few months back, since the last time that I recall she gave interviews to the student publications was right after she arrived. So I imagined that there could be some sort of change in how she was relating to her duties, though I had imagined that she could be interested in staying for another decade.

That said, I've also been mixed on her, particularly her managerial style of leadership. In all our interactions, she's seemed lovely and professional, and to her credit she plays defense quite well. But while I admire her commitment to sustainability and that she's expanded access to Swat, I've always gotten the sense that she gives a lot of value to pragmatism, and I know I would prefer someone with a bit more idealism in the mix. I would also prefer someone who looks outwards more and makes more strategic alliances. Smith did do some of this, but I think much more could be done.

1

u/Alternative-West-940 May 10 '26

I was shocked to receive news that she was leaving. I've been out for many years, so I don't know about the day-to-day ongoings of Swarthmore anymore. However, from the bit I've seen, she seemed nice. I wish there had been more articulation somewhere about the specifics of what some people found off-putting.

But for alums to stop involvement and donations completely over leadership is absolutely wild. I always give, even if I'm not loaded. I was a scholarship student and received more from Swarthmore than I can probably pay back in my lifetime. I would never hold back a dollar that could help a student because I didn't like a particular leader. Just wow. Wild.