Phounam Pin AC ’23J

Scholarship Recipient

Why Smith?
I remember visiting Smith’s campus for the first time at the Ada Comstock Open House. Right then and there I knew I belonged at Smith. I was inspired by Adas’ bravery, strength, motivation and determination.

I also trust that Smith is an institution that will fulfill my academic curiosity and provide me with the support systems I need to succeed. You can’t beat the academic experience, especially in my fields of political science and the study of women and gender. And most importantly, I know that I can always rely on the Smith alum network when I need it—I’ve witnessed the incredible work that Smithies have accomplished all over the world.

What has financial aid meant to you?
Smith financial aid provides equal access to education. This aid has provided an opportunity for me to unlock my curiosity and my potential, and offers proof that I can work hard and succeed when I am given the chance. As the first in my family to finish high school and go to college, I will be a bridge for my nieces and nephews in Cambodia to get a better education.

What does being a Smithie mean to you?
Being a Smithie means being in control of your destiny. Of course I have my own struggles, but I remain grateful to have enough funds to continue my education and to work on my life goals.

What are you studying?
I am majoring in government with a focus in international relations. I’m also completing a Five College certificate program in reproductive health, rights and justice. I am hoping to go to law school post-Smith. Ultimately, I want to return to my homeland of Cambodia to work as a human rights lawyer.

“I trust that Smith is an institution that will fulfill my academic curiosity and provide me with the support systems I need to succeed.”

What’s a little-known fact about you?
I understand four languages.

What’s an accomplishment you’re proud of during your time at Smith?
With support from Smith’s Praxis Program, I interned this summer with the Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) Health Services Department. While there, I created a community outreach plan that uses social media to restore family planning and health services to pre-pandemic levels. I also volunteered with High Water Women (HWW), an organization that works to empower women through financial literacy programs, where I learned how to write grant applications. Through these experiences, I’ve developed a passion for legal and social work that focuses on access to equal health and educational services for women and youth.

What’s an opportunity you’ve had at Smith that has changed you?
Working as a research assistant for the Reproductive Justice History in Action Project through a Quigley Fellowship is the most exciting experience I’ve had this semester. It changes the way I look at social movements and it deepens my knowledge of reproductive rights, community organizing and the legacy of women’s suffrage and leadership.

Why should donors support financial aid?
Investing in financial aid is investing in the next generation. It is ending unequal access to higher education and helping low-income families break the cycle of familial poverty.

Contact Us

To make an endowed gift or to learn more about supporting financial aid at Smith, please contact Betsy Carpenter ’93, associate vice president for development, at 413-585-2052 or ewcarpen@smith.edu.