Smith in Paris: A Centennial Celebration of Culture, Conversation, and Lasting Connections

From the cobblestone charm of Montparnasse to the gilded elegance of the Faubourg Saint-Honoré, Smith College alums and friends reveled in the City of Light this June when they gathered to celebrate the Smith in Paris program’s 100th anniversary. The four-day schedule unfolded like a love letter to Paris—and to a century of intellectual curiosity, global friendships, and bold women who made the city their own.

Thursday, June 12, marked the grand arrival. Guests stepped through the historic gates of Reid Hall, collecting name badges, programs, and welcome bags before joining a champagne reception in the sun-dappled courtyard—the first of many festive soirées. Laughter, clinking glasses, and stories of Paris past set the tone for the weekend ahead.

The following morning, Friday, June 13, began with fresh coffee, tea, and buttery viennoiseries. Smith in Paris Administrative Director Marie-Madeleine Charlier, Director of International Alumnae Relations Jacqueline DeFelice, and others welcomed guests before the start of the official program exploring the rich history of the Paris program. Brunhilde Biebuyck, director of the Columbia Global Paris Center, offered the opening keynote, “From Northampton to Montparnasse: A Century of Smith Women in Paris.” Then, in a panel moderated by former program faculty director Professor Robert Dorit, alumnae spanning decades—including Florence Fabricant ’58, Emily Farrell ’99, Ann Sanford ’75, and Danielle Julien Trice ’14—shared personal reflections on how study abroad can simultaneously expand horizons and deepen self-knowledge.

After lunch at nearby cafés and bistros, the afternoon offered a feast for the mind: three concurrent sessions on the city’s history, art, and politics. The presentations ranged from Professor Hélène Visentin’s cartographic journey through Parisian history, to an art-world insider’s view on sculptor Sarah Sze with Leanne Sacramone ’89, to Professor Gregory White’s timely analysis of the European Union in 2025.

As evening fell, guests traded seminar rooms for silk ties and cocktail dresses at the Gala Dinner with Smith President Sarah Willie-LeBreton, held in the opulent Cercle de l’Union Interalliée. With its World War I origins as a haven for Allied officers, the Cercle’s storied salon was filled once again with voices from around the globe, united in celebration.

On Saturday, June 14, attendees were invited to experience Paris on their own terms—choosing among tours on art, architecture, and culinary delights—before regrouping for a reception at the newly opened Sciences Po Saint Thomas campus. This restored 17th-century monument, now a hub of academic exchange, proved the perfect backdrop for toasting the next hundred years of Smith in Paris.

Finally, Sunday, June 15, offered one last embrace: an informal farewell coffee at Reid Hall, where new friends and old classmates savored pastries and parting words before heading back into the wider world.

With its blend of history, scholarship, fine dining, and Parisian glamour, the centennial celebration was not just a reunion, but a renewal of the bold, curious spirit that has defined Smith in Paris for a century.