About the Center

The Smith Center for Religious & Spiritual Life offers a unique setting for student engagement. You’ll find holiday and holy day celebrations, a cappella concerts, religious text study, intriguing discussions and fresh-baked cookies—sometimes happening all at the same time.

What We Offer

We tailor the programs and activities we offer each semester to students’ questions, concerns and ideas. Some of our popular programs include Soup, Salad, & Soul; Mindful Mondays; Jummah; weekly meditation; Shabbat; and Generating Justice and Joy.

We meet with students in our building and across campus—in student houses, dining rooms, the Campus Center, and for walks along the pond. Drop by the chapel anytime to visit, hang out, pray, or study. Our staff are also available to meet with students by appointment. We want all Smith students to feel there is a place for them here. We work to ensure that you have what you need to thrive here—whether it is food that meets your dietary requirements, listening hearts, religious community to worship or celebrate with, or a companion on your spiritual journey.

To learn more about what we’re up to this semester, check out our newsletter and our blog!

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 & 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 & 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 also possesses a certificate in Islamic chaplaincy from Hartford International University for Religion and Peace. Her greatest desire is to support students on their spiritual path.

Rabbi Bruce Bromberg Seltzer

Jewish Student Adviser

bbrombergseltzer@smith.edu

Rabbi Bruce has returned to Smith College, previously working at Smith as Chaplain to the College/Adviser to the Jewish Community from 2002–2010. He graduated from Franklin & Marshall College and received an M.A. in Jewish studies and rabbinic ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary. He has studied advanced Jewish studies at Jerusalem’s Pardes Institute, Machon Schechter, the Conservative Yeshiva, and Hadar Institute.

Rabbi Bruce worked at Amherst College for 21 years as the Jewish chaplain and Hillel director, assistant director of the Freeman Center for Jewish Life, and campus rabbi at Duke University, the Jewish chaplain at Drew University. He taught Jewish Culture at Western New England University.

Rabbi Bruce has worked at Camp Ramah New England supervising kosher dining for summer retreats and during the camp season. He acts as a Kashrut Consultant for culinary businesses and non-profit groups and retreat centers in New England. He lives in Northampton with his wife Deborah and children. Rabbi Bruce and his family belong to Congregations Bnai Israel and are active in the Ohel Minyan. He also serves on the board of the Hebrew Free Loan Association of Greater Springfield.

Student Advisory Board

The CRSL student advisory board consists of students who advise the center staff on programming and events, in service of a cooperative, collaborative model of spiritual engagement between the center and student leaders and other campus stakeholders, as well as the wider community. The board will serve as an interfaith body, helping to accomplish the task of making the religious and spiritual offerings of the center congruent to student needs and hopes. In addition, the board will have a focus on the center’s “Reflect, Rejuvenate, Resist” mission, wherein the center plays the role on campus to make spirituality at the heart of how we address world events and social justice issues, and promotes dialogue and action based in contemplative, prayerful practice. The board will also help the center act as a liaison between student religious org leaders and attend, participate in, and provide leadership to center programs wherever possible, in particular the Interfaith Alliance.

More Information

  • Advises the center in its leadership role in ethical reflection, supporting spiritual flourishing and engaging religious diversity in the college
  • Supports student activism to address ethical issues affecting the community and the wider world, via vigils and other faith-based action
  • Helps “gauge” the needs of the student community in responding to world and community events and advises the center in taking prayerful action grounded in contemplative practice and dialogue

In addition, each year the group will specify its own goals based on student interest and community needs.

Students who are interested in interfaith leadership, community service and social justice combined with spirituality would be best suited for a position on the Center for Religious & Spiritual Life Advisory Board. Everyone is encouraged to apply, whether your spirituality is mainstream or nontraditional. For more information, contact Matilda Cantwell. Learn more and apply.