"As Princeton’s dean of the college, Val Smith has demonstrated a heartfelt appreciation for the values that define a liberal arts education. She is a brilliant scholar and a superb teacher, and she cares deeply about student well-being and diversity. She has also been a distinguished leader for an administrative team that is talented, collegial, and effective. Val fits perfectly with the mission and ethos of Swarthmore College, and, while we will miss her at Princeton, we are thrilled to see her take the helm of such a great institution." -- Christopher Eisgruber, President of Princeton University
"Accomplished as a scholar, beloved as a teacher, and well-respected in her field, Val Smith certainly personifies the joyful pursuits of the mind at the core of the Swarthmore community, both inside the classroom and out. With her deep devotion to the liberal arts, she values what Swarthmore values—academic excellence, intellectual curiosity, artistic creativity, and an ethical responsibility to others, on campus and beyond it. At the same time, her vision for our future conceives of a Swarthmore rich with new possibilities for innovation, interconnection, interdisciplinarity, and inclusion. I can’t fully express just how elated I am at this very special moment for us, and we should all be excited to welcome Val Smith to Swarthmore!" -- Anthony Foy, Associate Professor of English Literature
"Valerie Smith's commitment to access, affordability, and co-curricular education, both on campus and in surrounding communities, offer exciting opportunities for Swarthmore. Her ability to connect with people is palpable and can support efforts to enhance the community experience, for all constituency groups. Her deep appreciation for liberal arts education, combined with her passion for social justice, will provide a great foundation for the lasting mission and future success of Swarthmore. I look forward to Valerie's future conversations with the community regarding the ongoing and future development of our shared Strategic Directions." -- Zenobia Hargust, Human Resources Manager
"Though I'm a bit disappointed I won't be able to work with Val as a student leader, I am very excited for my classmates and future Swarthmore students. I am eager to see Val lead Swarthmore at such a critical time in the College's history. Within minutes of interviewing her, I was impressed with her passion for the liberal arts and the way she spoke with conviction regarding her previous work, accomplishments, and goals. I have no doubt that she can continue to guide the Swarthmore community towards being an exemplar in higher education. She has evidenced and expressed her willingness to not only lead but also to collaborate with members from all facets of the community." -- Jason Heo '15
"In Valerie Smith, Swarthmore is gaining a wonderful combination of experience, leadership, and deliberate ambition. She has both an extensive understanding of the undergraduate experience in a liberal arts setting as well as the global challenges that face higher education. She is an excellent listener and synthesizer of disparate views and has that rare ability to both divine a pathway forward and to lead towards it from within our community." -- Harold "Koof" Kalkstein '78, Member of the Board of Managers
"Valerie Smith is a respected scholar and a wise, effective leader with impressive accomplishments that closely align with Swarthmore’s values: access and affordability, dynamic undergraduate learning opportunities, and educating students to be leaders who value the common good. Her colleagues consistently praise her judgment, integrity, and commitment to making a liberal arts education accessible to all students." -- Gil Kemp '72, Chair of the Board of Managers
"I think Val is truly the president Swarthmore needs. She combines a scholarly poise with a caring and compassionate spirit and I firmly believe that when she joins us in the fall, we will quickly come to see just how inspiring and thoughtful a leader she is. I am confident she will take this presidency in both hands and steer Swarthmore in audacious directions." -- Isabel Knight '16
"Swarthmore alums appreciate the value of a liberal arts education and it is thrilling to have a passionate advocate as our next president. Valerie Smith has a strong understanding of key issues facing the liberal arts today such as affordability and access and the impact of technology. I have no doubt she will maintain and expand Swarthmore's role in shaping the future of the liberal arts." -- David Ko '92, President of the Swarthmore Alumni Council
"As Swarthmore's president, Val will be able to draw on a lifetime of deep and broad engagement with liberal education: as an engaged student, distinguished scholar, dedicated teacher, widely respected board member, and finally, as a successful administrator." -- Ellen Magenheim, Professor of Economics
"Val Smith is a superb choice to lead Swarthmore. Her character and accomplishments mirror the excellence, high standards, and values of this distinguished college. She will lead with wisdom, compassion, and a commitment to the bedrock ideals of the liberal arts tradition." -- Ruth Simmons, Past President of Brown University
"In her achievements as a scholar and teacher and as someone who leads by example, Val is committed to fostering an inclusive environment and engaging with our community. She is the perfect person to lead Swarthmore and to ensure we achieve our goals, in particular those regarding our academic program, sustainability, access and affordability, and our engagement with the world around us." -- Salem Shuchman '84 P'16, Chair of the Presidential Search Committee
"I am so pleased to welcome Valerie Smith to the College as our next president. She is an accomplished scholar and a collaborative leader who has a deep commitment to the liberal arts, and to Swarthmore’s core values of academic excellence and civic engagement. I am excited to introduce her to our community, and I truly look forward to working with her in the coming years." -- Kathy Siwicki, Howard A. Schneiderman Professor of Biology
"Val Smith is brilliant scholar, a creative academic leader, and a human being of extraordinary depth and grounding. She has been a thought leader on the Bates Board of Trustees for more than a decade, to whom we all turn for precision, nuance, and unerring institutional judgment. Val will be an exceptional president of Swarthmore and an important voice in the national conversation about the value of the liberal arts." -- Clayton Spencer, President of Bates College
"Val Smith is a brilliant and distinguished scholar and a thoughtful and astute leader. Her commitment to both curricular and co-curricular excellence and her passion for ensuring that all of our students thrive and fully enjoy the transformational educational experience that Swarthmore offers make her a wonderful fit for the College. I look forward to her presidency." -- Sujatha Srinivasan '01
"I congratulate the members of the search committee at Swarthmore College, who have made a truly inspired choice in selecting Valerie Smith as their next president. As a distinguished scholar of African American literature, a teacher and mentor to so many grateful students, and as an administrator ably overseeing the undergraduate program at Princeton, Dean Smith is universally respected and admired. Her wonderful human touch and deep commitment to the values of a liberal arts education makes her a perfect match for Swarthmore." -- Shirley Tilghman, President Emeritus and Professor of Molecular Biology and Public Affairs, Princeton University