Smith College Bears: A New Era in Athletics

Smith College, a distinguished liberal arts women's college in Northampton, Massachusetts, is undergoing a transformation in its athletic identity. Founded in 1875, Smith has a rich history of empowering women and fostering a vibrant community. As the college celebrates its sesquicentennial in 2025, a new chapter begins for Smith athletics with the adoption of the Smith Bears moniker, replacing the long-standing Pioneers.

From Pioneers to Bears: A Moniker Evolution

For nearly four decades, Smith's athletic teams were known as the Pioneers, a name embodying the spirit of being first in any field. However, a recent survey revealed that a significant majority (82%) of student-athletes felt disconnected from the Pioneer mascot. This led to a multi-year effort, spearheaded by students, to find a more inclusive, representative, and unifying symbol for the entire Smith community.

In the fall of 2022, a discussion in a Critical Sport Media class sparked a deeper conversation among student-athletes, particularly on the rowing team, about the use of Pioneers. Momentum grew, and the Moniker Committee was formed to gather input from the community. Over 1,200 submissions poured in from students, faculty, staff, and alums across generations.

On May 7, 2025, the college unveiled its new moniker: the Smith Bears.

Honoring Senda Berenson: A Legacy of Women's Athletics

The decision to embrace the Bears is deeply rooted in Smith's athletic heritage, and most notably honors Senda Berenson, a pioneer in women's sports. Berenson arrived at Smith in 1892 and is credited with launching women’s basketball at Smith in 1892, as well as introducing fencing and field hockey to the college’s athletics program. She served as the director of physical training from 1892 to 1911.

Berenson's impact extends far beyond Smith College. She has been inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, the Basketball Hall of Fame, and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. Her commitment to physical fitness and her belief that women should be active and healthy aligns with Sophia Smith's mission of empowering women.

Alexandra Keller, Dean of the College and Vice President for Campus Life, emphasized that Berenson "brought in this expectation that women should move around, be active and that was going to contribute to them being whole people able to do all the things they wanted to do… That really tied in well with Sophia Smith’s mission in founding the college."

The Bear as a Symbol: Strength, Determination, and Local Connection

Beyond honoring Berenson, the bear was chosen for its symbolic representation of strength, determination, and its connection to the local environment. Bears are native to New England, and there have been notable instances of bears wandering onto Smith's campus.

Piper Corey ’25, Vice President of the Student Government Association and a member of the Moniker Committee, described bears as “empathetic, joyful, playful, social, and altruistic."

Keller noted that "the students on the committee talked about their bear stories on campus, about how their social media would blow up whenever there was a bear… There’s something really exciting about that, so it sort of tilted us toward bears."

A New Mascot: Senda the Bear

To further solidify the new identity, the college plans to introduce a new mascot named Senda the Bear, along with an official logo. These are expected to be unveiled at a later date.

Karly Toledo ’21, a former Smith rower and member of the Navajo Nation, expressed her excitement about the new moniker and its potential for instilling a sense of playfulness and fun across campus. “I can’t wait to see how Smithies take the bear and make it their own,” she said.

A Sesquicentennial Celebration: A Time for Change and Unity

The adoption of the Smith Bears coincides with the college's 150th anniversary, making it a momentous occasion for the entire community. As Keller stated, "Because we are in our 150th year, it seemed like a really good moment to make a decision and have a new thing to bring everyone together for the next 150 years."

President Sarah Willie-LeBreton shared her enthusiasm for the new moniker, stating, “When I arrived, our students were already asking if we might update our moniker… Bears had lots of support, are native to New England, and are strong and determined."

Smith Athletics: A Legacy of Firsts and Achievements

Smith College has a long and storied athletic history, marked by numerous achievements and pioneering spirit.

Read also: Football Prodigy: Jeremiah Smith

Early Years and the Rise of Women's Athletics

In September 1875, Smith College opened its doors. Athletics were not yet an integral part of the school. Senda Berenson brought the ideas of exercise, health, and competition with her. Not long after arriving here she adapted the newly developed game of basketball for women, and on March 22, 1893, the world's first women's collegiate basketball game was held in the Alumnae Gym, first-years (Class of 1896) against sophomores (Class of 1895).

Smith's athletes have lived up to the title of "Pioneers". Athletics continued at Smith, but often only as required classes, as a subject of study.

Seven Sisters and NCAA Membership

In 1981, Smith joined the Seven Sisters schools for athletic competition. The original Seven Sisters-Barnard, Bryn Mawr, Mount Holyoke, Radcliffe, Smith, Vassar, and Wellesley-joined to conduct championships in common sports, the first in basketball. Swimming and tennis were soon added. Seven Sisters tournaments continue today, with competition in volleyball, crew, cross-country, squash, swimming and diving, and tennis.

1981 was a good year for Smith athletics as the college joined the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the first women's school to do so.

Also that year, the volleyball team, coached by Bonnie May, participated in the first NCAA Division III volleyball championship, competing against the University of California, San Diego, in the first round.

In 1983, Smith field hockey, coached by Jackie Blei, was among only 16 teams to go to DIII Championships.

Individual Achievements and All-American Status

Smith athletics has plenty to brag about. Last year, we had our first Rookie of the Year, Rosa Drummond '14, for basketball. Each year our athletes earn All-American status. We break records.

An athlete came to Smith, swimsuit in hand, to serve as Smith's swimming and diving captain her senior year, and became a three-time NCAA DIII diving All-American and a three-time NEWMAC All-Conference recipient. Along the way, Shanti Freitas '08 broke and reset every diving record at the college. In her senior year, she represented NEWMAC in a national competition for NCAA Woman of the Year.

Smith athletics originally sought to include everyone, regardless of skill level.

Basketball Success

The nod to Berenson, considered to be the founder of women’s basketball, is particularly relevant given Smith’s recent success in the sport. The basketball team has made finals of the NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Tournament the last two years, establishing themselves as a perennial contender in the sport and solidifying basketball as the school’s premier athletics program.

Smith College: A Legacy of Academic Excellence and Social Impact

Beyond athletics, Smith College has a long and distinguished history of academic excellence and social impact.

Academics and Programs

Smith has 50 academic departments and programs and is structured around an open curriculum. Examinations vary from self-scheduled exams, scheduled exams, and take-home exams. The college was the first historically women's college to offer an undergraduate engineering degree.

Smith runs its own junior year abroad (JYA) programs in four European cities: Paris, Hamburg, Florence, and Geneva. These programs are notable for requiring all studies to be conducted in the language of the host country (with both Paris and Geneva programs conducted in French). In some cases, students live in homestays with local families.

Junior math majors from other undergraduate institutions are invited to study at Smith College for one year through the Center for Women in Mathematics. Established in the fall of 2007 by Professors Ruth Haas and Jim Henle, the program aims to allow young women to improve their mathematical abilities through classwork, research, and involvement in a department centered on women.

The Louise W. and Edmund J. Kahn Liberal Arts Institute supports collaborative research without regard to the traditional boundaries of academic departments and programs. Each year the institute supports long-term and short-term projects proposed, planned, and organized by members of the Smith College faculty.

Students can develop leadership skills through Smith's two-year Phoebe Reese Lewis Leadership Program. Through Smith's internship program, "Praxis: The Liberal Arts at Work," all undergraduates are guaranteed access to one college-funded internship during their years at the college.

The Ada Comstock Scholars Program is an undergraduate degree program that serves Smith students of nontraditional college age. The program accommodates approximately 100 women ranging in age from mid-twenties to over sixty. Ada Comstock Scholars attend the same classes as traditional undergraduates, either full or part-time, and participate fully in a variety of extracurricular activities. They may live on or off campus.

Smith's graduate program is open to applicants of any gender. Degrees offered are Master of Arts in teaching (elementary, middle or high school), master of fine arts, master of education of the deaf, Master of Science in biological sciences, Master of Science in exercise and sport studies and master and Ph.D. in social work. In special one-year programs, international students may qualify for a certificate of graduate studies or a diploma in American studies.

The Smith College School for Social Work is nationally recognized for its specialization in clinical social work and puts a heavy emphasis on direct field work practice. The program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

Admissions and Campus Life

For the Class of 2027 (enrolling fall 2023), Smith received 9,868 applications (reflecting a 36 percent increase over last year), accepted 1,875 (19.0%), and enrolled 630. Smith’s applicant pool has increased 36 percent over the past year, which the college attributes to the decision to move to ‘loan-free’ financial aid.

Smith requires most undergraduate students to live in on-campus houses unless they reside locally with their families. This policy is intended to add to the camaraderie and social cohesion of its students. Unlike most institutions of its type, Smith College does not have dorms, but rather 41 separate houses, ranging in architectural style from 18th-century to contemporary.

Sustainability

For Smith's efforts regarding sustainability, the institution earned a grade of A− on the "College Sustainability Report Card 2010" administered by the Sustainable Endowments Institute.

Notable Alumnae

Smith College has produced many notable alumnae who have made significant contributions in various fields. These include:

Laura D'Andrea Tyson ’69: Served as cabinet member (1993-1996), chair of the President’s Council of Economic Advisers (1993-1995), and director of the White House National Economic Council (1995-1996) under President Bill Clinton.
Gloria Steinem (class of 1956): Feminist and legal scholar, founder of Ms. Magazine.
Rose Jang (class of 2001): Award-winning pop opera singer and violinist.

tags: #Smith #College #Bears #athletics #history