Our Staff

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 and 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 and 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 is currently studying Islamic Chaplaincy at 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/Advisor to the Jewish Community from 2002–2010. He graduated from Franklin and 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, and the Conservative Yeshiva.

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/Campus Rabbi at Duke University, the Jewish Chaplain and Hillel Director 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 as the president of the Hebrew Freer Loan Association of Greater Springfield.

Anna Ostow

Contemplative Practice, Mindfulness, and Social Change Facilitator

aostow@smith.edu
Helen Hills Hills Chapel B14

Anna Ostow (she/they) is the Contemplative Practice, Mindfulness, and Social Change facilitator at the Center for Religious and Spiritual Life, as well as the Sotomayor Fellow at the Smith School for Social Work. She leads programs at the intersections of spirituality, mindfulness, and social change for students, staff, and faculty, and supports the CRSL in a range of other communications and program coordination roles. Anna is a certified somatic coach, holds a masters from the Starr King School for the Ministry, and particularly counts Robert Horton, Janet Carter, Meredith Broome, J. Tyson Casey, and the entire UNtraining community as her teachers. Please email Anna to set up an appointment.