The Smith College Club of Philadelphia

November & December 2025 Events

UPDATE: Seven Sisters Holiday Meet-Up — Updated Event Details

The original Seven Sisters Holiday Party hosted by the Mount Holyoke Club of Philadelphia has changed. If you previously purchased a ticket, you should already have received a refund.

Thanks to two local Seven Sisters alums, Johanna Levitt (Bryn Mawr) and Gemma Tate (Mount Holyoke), we’re still celebrating! They’ve generously stepped up to organize an informal, drop-in style meet-up on the same date so we can keep the tradition alive—no prepaid minimum required.

New Meet-Up Details
Sunday, December 7
4:00–6:00 PM
Almyra Restaurant
1636 Chancellor St, Philadelphia
almyrarestaurant.com

Swing by whenever you can! It’s pay-as-you-go, and all alums and friends are welcome.

Please spread the word—and many thanks to Johanna, Gemma, and Shannon for making this gathering possible!

Smith College Club of Philadelphia Care Package Event
November 16, 2025 | 2 pm

Join the Smith College Club of Philadelphia for a special care package assembly event! This is a wonderful opportunity to come together with fellow Smithies to prepare and send care packages to students, alumni, or community members in need of some extra love and support this season.

Enjoy a relaxed, social atmosphere while helping spread cheer. All materials and supplies will be provided, and participants are welcome to bring additional items to include in the packages.

Please email phillysmithclub@gmail.com to express interest and receive the location.

The Annual Seven Sisters Holiday Tradition Lives On

Sunday, December 7, 2025 | 3 – 5 pm
Aqimero Lounge at the Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia, 10 Avenue of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA 19102

Come for an evening of connection, conversation, and celebration in the elegant and festive surroundings of the Aqimero Lounge at the Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia.

This is a crowdfunded event—your ticket directly covers drinks, bites, and the venue. Space is limited and the event typically sells out each year.

Event Details:

Tickets: $50 per person (plus Eventbrite fees)
Includes: Two drink tickets (good for selections from our custom event drink menu or non-alcoholic options such as mocktails, coffee, tea, or soda), along with light bites in a beautifully decorated space
Capacity: 50 tickets available; all must sell to confirm the event
If the minimum is not met, the event will be canceled and all payments refunded (minus Eventbrite fees). No refunds will be issued otherwise, as ticket sales go directly toward fulfilling our contract with Aqimero.

Register: https://mhcphillyclub.my.canva.site/7s

Events

October 2025 Events

An Evening with Joanna May, Smith VP of Enrollment

Wednesday, October 8, 2025 | 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Home of Jackie Schrauger ’11, Northwest Philadelphia (address provided with RSVP)

Join the Smith College Club of Philadelphia for a special evening with Joanna May, Vice President of Enrollment at Smith College. Joanna will share insights into the current Smith admissions process, how it has evolved over the years, and what makes Smith’s approach unique.

This is a wonderful opportunity to hear directly from a senior leader at Smith and to engage in meaningful conversation about admissions today. Following her presentation, there will be time for Q&A and group discussion.

Space is limited—please RSVP by Friday, October 3 to phillysmithclub@gmail.com to reserve your spot and receive the location details.

Join Us for Mountain Day Fun at Linvilla Orchards

Sunday, October 5, 2025 | 11 a.m.
Linvilla Orchards, 137 W Knowlton Road, Media, PA 19063

Celebrate Mountain Day, Smithie-style! Join the Smith College Club of Philadelphia for a family-friendly outing at Linvilla Orchards. We’ll enjoy apple picking, hayrides, cider donuts, and plenty of fall fun at this beloved local farm.

Bring your family, friends, and fellow Smithies for a relaxed morning together. Whether you’re stocking up at the farm store, wandering the orchards, or just soaking in the autumn atmosphere, there’s something for everyone. Folks can meet at the lower gazebo across from the farm store.

Let us know you’re coming!
Please RSVP by emailing phillysmithclub@gmail.com so we know to look out for you.

Smith College Club of Philadelphia

phillysmithclub.com

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09/05: Support Smithies in “Within the Fall”

Come support Smithies Nell Adkins and Helen Sher as they perform in “Within the Fall,” a dance theatre piece inspired by S. Ansky’s play The Dybbuk. Meet us at 4:45 outside Icebox Project Space Gallery and join us for drinks after at Johnny Brenda’s.

Date and Time: Friday, September 5th, 4:45 PM

Location: Icebox Project Space Gallery

1400 N American St
Philadelphia
PA
19122

See more about the play (and the Smithies performing in it!): https://phillyfringe.org/venues/icebox-project-space-gallery/

Events

IN-PERSON – 6/7: Join Philly Smith Club for Our 2025 Annual Meeting & Afternoon Tea at the Historic Stenton!

Saturday, June 7, 2025 | 2 – 4 p.m.

4601 N 18th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140

Please join the Smith College Club of Philadelphia for our Annual Meeting and Afternoon Tea on Saturday, June 7, from 2 to 4 p.m., hosted at the beautiful and historic Stenton House in Germantown.

We’re thrilled to offer exclusive tours led by two fellow Smithies: Kaila Temple ’18, Curator of Collections at Historic Germantown, and Laura Keim ’93, Curator at Stenton. These accomplished alums will guide us through one of Philadelphia’s earliest, best-preserved, and most authentic historic homes.

We’ll gather under an outdoor tent (with tables and chairs provided), where we’ll conduct our quick annual meeting and enjoy time to connect. Tours will follow, with the afternoon concluding back under the tent for tea and treats. In case of bad weather, we’ll move indoors.
Guests are welcome! Non-members are warmly invited to join us.

Tickets (includes admission, tour, and tea):

$17 – Non-members
$10 – Club Members
$2 – New Members (Smith ’24 and ’25 grads)

Please register via Eventbrite here to reserve your spot.

Getting there is easy: Stenton is accessible via SEPTA’s Chestnut Hill East line (just a short walk from the station), and there is ample free parking on-site.

This is also a great time to renew your membership or become a new member of the Smith College Club of Philadelphia – support our programs and stay connected with fellow Smithies throughout the region.

Save the date—Saturday, June 7—and come celebrate with us!

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Join the 2025 – 2026 Philly Smith Club Board!

This is the time of year when we begin to recruit new board members! The board meets monthly on Zoom to plan events, coordinate book awards, distribute care packages, and keep the club running. To put together a board that is representative of the alumni network, we’d especially like to encourage recent grads, older alums, alums of color, and alums in both the city and suburbs to join. We welcome candidates with any level of experience – it’s a great first board to be on. Join the board to get more involved and shape the future of the Philly Smith Club!

We are hoping to fill the following roles:

Communications: Manage social media accounts and communicate with the Office of Alumnae Relations.
Secretary: Record and share meeting minutes, manage board communications, and help keep documents and schedules organized.
Membership: Overseeing membership drives and maintaining accurate membership records.
Board Member at Large: Attend most board meetings, participate in and host events. We would like to get four additional members to fill this role.

If you wish to nominate yourself or if you want to learn more about the board, please email Nicole at phillysmithclub@gmail.com by May 31, 2025.

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April and May 2025 Events

April

Virtual: Fear of Success and the Stories We Carry
Date: Saturday, April 19
Time: 12 – 2 p.m.
Where: Zoom link provided with RSVP
RSVP: riverasantosconsulting@gmail.com by Friday, April 18

In this two-hour workshop, join board member Odilia Rivera-Santos, MAPP, who will share readings about the fear of success and how we may begin to see ways to change our mindset and behavior to allow positive change in our personal and professional relationships. Ms. Rivera-Santos, MAPP is a writer, certified coach, and positive psychology practitioner trained at the University of Pennsylvania.

May

In Person: Tour Andalusia Historic House, Garden, and Arboretum
Date: Saturday, May 31
Time: 11 a.m.
Where: 1237 State Rd, Andalusia, PA 19020
Cost: Self-guided garden tour, $15 and kids 12 and under are free
RSVP: samingreen@gmail.com by Wednesday, May 28

Join board member Samin Green ’08 for a serene spring outing with fellow alumnae as we explore the stunning gardens of Andalusia Historic House, Garden and Arboretum. This self-guided tour offers a chance to connect with old friends, make new ones, unwind, and enjoy the beauty of nature along the Delaware River. Bring the whole family! Tickets are $15 and kids 12 and under are free. RSVP by May 28 and learn more at andalusiapa.org.

From the Philly Smith Club Network: Events to Know About

In Person: 10 Volunteers Needed at Hope in Motion 5K Run/Walk and Community Resource Fair
Date: Saturday, April 12
Time: 6:30 a.m., 7:30 a.m., and 8:30 a.m. (more details below)
Where: Centennial 5K Loop Trailhead, West Fairmount Park (in front of the Please Touch Museum), 4231 Avenue of the Republic, Philadelphia, PA US 19131
Register Here

Additional Note: Email phillysmithclub@gmail.com if you register, and we will connect you all via email so you can plan to self-organize on the day of the event.

We’re proud to support one of our alumnae, Natasha Danielá de Lima McGlynn, MPA ’08, and Executive Director of the Anti-Violence Partnership of Philadelphia (AVP), in their upcoming Hope in Motion 5K Run/Walk and Community Resource Fair.

Natasha and AVP are currently seeking 10 Smithie volunteers to help make this powerful day of solidarity and healing a success.

Volunteer shifts are:

• Core Team: 6:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (floater, setup and breakdown)

• Shift 1: 6:30 – 8:00 a.m. (setup, registration, check-in)

• Shift 2: 7:30 – 10:30 a.m. (course marshalls, water station crew, cheer squad)

• Shift 3: 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (post-race celebrations and breakdown).

Core Team and Shift 2 are where AVP needs the most support, but they appreciate anyone welcome and willing to volunteer for any shift. If you have any questions, please call, text, or email AVP Community Engagement Manager Nicole Mahia at 267-209-0755 or nmahia@avpphila.org.

While this isn’t a club-sponsored event, if you register and would like to connect with other Philly Smith Club members who also register, feel free to email us. We’ll send a follow-up to help those who want to self-organize on the day of the event.
Register Here

In Person: Historical Society of Pennsylvania presents Founders Award 2025 Honoring President Ruth Simmons
Date: Wednesday, May 14
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Where: Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1300 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Cost: $500 for an individual ticket (this is a fundraiser)
Learn More

Thank you to alumnus Peggy Duckett ’62 and Holly Trostle Brigham ’88 for sharing this exciting opportunity with us! On Wednesday, May 14, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania will host the 2025 Founder’s Award Dinner honoring former Smith College president Ruth J. Simmons with the Founder’s Award for exemplary service to the humanities. The Pennsylvania Abolition Society will also be recognized with the Heritage Award for 250 years of advocacy for Black Americans.
Thank you to alumnus Peggy Duckett ’62 and Holly Trostle Brigham ’88 for sharing this exciting opportunity with us!

On Wednesday, May 14, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania will host the 2025 Founder’s Award Dinner honoring former Smith College president Ruth J. Simmons with the Founder’s Award for exemplary service to the humanities. The Pennsylvania Abolition Society will also be recognized with the Heritage Award for 250 years of advocacy for Black Americans.

A special note from Peggy and Holly: Let’s consider getting a table (or two) together to celebrate Smith’s 150th anniversary and show our collective appreciation for President Simmons’ legacy. If you’re planning to attend, email us (Holly at htbrigham@verizon.net or Peggy at pegduckett@aol.com) and let us know – we’d love to have all the Smithies sit together (tables seat 8).

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November 2023 Events

smith-college-in-fall-libby-lord

11/2: Philly Smithie Spotlight: Conversation with Anti-Violence Partnership of Philadelphia Executive Director, Natasha Danielá de Lima McGlynn ’08

Date: Thursday, November 2, 2023
Time: 6:30 – 7:00pm: Reception and 7:00 – 8:00pm: Program
Location: Anti-Violence Partnership of Philadelphia, 4946 Parkside Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19131
Parking: Parking lot available at the office
RSVP by Wednesday, November 1: phillysmithclub@gmail.com

Join Philly Smith Club for a conversation with Smithie alum Natasha Danielá de Lima McGlynn ’08, Executive Director of the Anti-Violence Partnership of Philadelphia (AVP). In the midst of a pandemic and historic gun violence epidemic in Philadelphia, Natasha pivoted her career to take the helm of a 40-year-old nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting victims of violence and co-victims of homicide. As the leader of the oldest and largest victim service agency in Philadelphia, Natasha will share the pivotal moments, challenges, and triumphs that ignited her commitment to supporting victims and survivors and paved the way for her leadership.
Attendees will learn about AVP’s innovative programs, key partnerships, community initiatives, and advocacy efforts that have made a significant impact on the lives of those affected by violence. Throughout the evening, Natasha will offer valuable insights, practical advice, and lessons learned from her journey. Whether you are a recent graduate embarking on your career path or an established professional seeking an understanding of violence in Philadelphia, this event promises to leave you motivated and empowered to make a difference in our city.

About Natasha Danielá de Lima McGlynn ’08:

Natasha Danielá de Lima McGlynn’s journey from student to leader has been marked by her commitment to addressing violence and advocating for victims and survivors. She currently serves as the Executive Director of the Anti-Violence Partnership of Philadelphia. In this role, Natasha applies her experiences as a survivor and co-victim of homicide to ensure the safety, rights, well-being, and expressed needs of victims and survivors through effective governance and high quality, responsive, and sustainable services. Natasha’s academic background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Portuguese/Brazilian Studies and Economics from Smith College, and a Master of Public Administration and Certificate in Nonprofit Administration from the University of Pennsylvania’s Fels Institute of Government. As a Student Fellow with the Ortner Center on Violence & Abuse at the University of Pennsylvania, Natasha’s graduate research on violence against women in public spaces from a public administration lens earned her the 2020 Fels Public Service Award. She has a strong professional background in public service and nonprofit management, and she has received recognition for her work, including being named a 40 Under 40 by AL DIA. Most recently, she was appointed by the Governor to Pennsylvania’s Victim Services Advisory Committee, where she continues her efforts to ensuring the voices and needs of victims and survivors are considered in the development of statewide victim support services, policies, and legislation. Natasha’s journey reflects her fervent belief in and commitment to justice and transformative healing for victims and survivors.

11/6: Help put together care packages for current Smith students!

Date: Monday, November 6, 2023
Time: 6:30pm
Location: RSVP to brittneychan@gmail.com for location details.

11/19: Secure tickets for the Seven Sister Holiday Gathering
Exciting News! The Philly Smith Club is invited to participate in this year’s upcoming Seven Siter Holiday Gathering at Aqimero Lounge at the Ritz-Carlton on December 3, 2023. To help make this event possible, the committee needs to secure 50 commitments by November 19th.

Please see a special note from the coordinating committee:

Dear Seven Sisters!

We have the opportunity to reserve part of the Aqimero Lounge at the Ritz-Carlton for the Seven Sister Holiday Gathering this season!

We are starting early because this event is only a “go” if enough people are interested… Grab your spot and mark your calendar!

The Ritz requires a food and beverage minimum commitment of $1500, and for it to be paid in advance to reserve the space, which can accommodate 50 people. The cost will be $30 (plus Eventbrite fees) per person and includes: Mingling with *fabulous company* in beautiful holiday surroundings while enjoying light bites, open bar, including non-alcoholic beverages (mocktails, coffee, tea, soda).

Are you in?! Purchase a ticket before Nov. 19th. As soon as we secure 50 commitments, we can contract our space and confirm the event. What happens if we can’t muster 50 RSVPs from our entire 7S Philadelphia network by Nov. 19th? That would be a bummer, but no fear, your ticket price will be refunded.

Register for Seven Sister Holiday Party Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/seven-sisters-holiday-gathering-at-the-phila-ritz-carlton-aqimero-lounge-registration-727915574077?aff=oddtdtcreator

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Fundraiser – Flowers for grads!

We hope everyone is doing well in these difficult times and encourage you to reach out to the club if we can help in any way. We had our first virtual tea on Friday and are excited about offering more in the near future! In the meantime let’s do something special for this year’s Smith graduates!

The Smith College Club of Philadelphia would like to send flowers to this year’s Smith graduates living in the Philadelphia area. Traditionally, Smith graduates would get a rose for their Ivy Day march, but this year, on-campus graduation events have been canceled due to the pandemic. We’d like to send a celebratory bouquet and are asking for donations of any size towards this endeavor.

We have 18 graduates on our list. Please help us by donating any amount to this PayPal link. All donations will go directly towards the cost of purchasing and delivering the bouquets. (Unless we collect more than we need, in which case any additional proceeds will go towards next year’s care packages.) Flower arrangements range between $25 and $50, and the types of flowers that we send will depend on how much we are able to raise. We understand that this is a difficult time for many, and appreciate any donation of any amount.

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Three Little Words: Understanding Medicare for All

7:00 p.m., Thursday, February 6th, 2020
225 S 18th Street, Philadelphia, 7th floor

KSchneider
Katherine A. Schneider, MD, M.Phil., FAAFP
President and Chief Executive Officer,
Delaware Valley Accountable Care Organization
Smith Class of ’86

Tickets: $5 pay what you wish
RSVP: We need an RSVP list for the doorman, so please RSVP to phillysmithclub@gmail.com no later than Feb. 1st

The phrase “Medicare For All” means something unique to everyone, including the authors of no fewer than about a dozen very different bills that have been introduced in Congress. When big health policy ideas make it into important public discourse, Dr. Schneider loves to contribute to the national dialogue by helping people understand the issues at more than a three-word slogan level, but not requiring a PhD.Using nonpartisan educational content mainly from the Kaiser Family Foundation, Dr. Schneider will help you inform/develop your own opinions based upon accurate information.

Dr. Schneider’s Biography
Nationally known for her work in the field of accountable care and patient engagement, Dr. Katherine Schneider’s mission is to deliver better health, better care, and sustainable cost in the communities that we work in, live in, and serve. She believes passionately that the time has finally come for the business model of healthcare to align with care models that further this mission. As President and CEO, Dr. Schneider provides leadership, strategic direction and ongoing administration and management for all aspects of the Delaware Valley Accountable Care Organization.

Previously, Dr. Schneider was Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Medecision, population health and care management technology for providers and health plans. She has also previously held senior physician executive roles at AtlantiCare (NJ) and Middlesex Health System (CT), with responsibility for population health, including ACO’s and other value-based payor partnerships, community health status improvement, chronic disease management, a provider-owned health plan, and employee health and wellness. She is a graduate of Smith College and Columbia University. She is a board-certified Family Physician with an additional degree in Epidemiology and is also in the first cohort of US physicians to achieve subspecialty certification in Clinical Informatics in 2013.

Dr. Schneider is a former member of the National Advisory Council to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), a current board member of the National Association of ACOs (NAACOS), and advisory board member to KLAS and the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).

Dr. Schneider is a resident of Center City Philadelphia along with her physician husband, rescue dog, and occasionally one of her four young adult daughters/stepsons.

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Sundays with Smithies Book Club Launch

Would you like to meet with other Smithies to discuss novels by diverse authors? Have you always wanted to join a Smith book club, but could not make weeknights work in your sch image (1) 2 edule? Join the new Sundays with Smithies Book Club! We will be meeting each month on a Sunday afternoon to talk about that month’s book in a local café. Come to our inaugural meeting on November 17 where we will discuss A Tale for the Time Being, but Ruth Ozeki ’80 and figure out what to read in the coming months. ALL Smithies welcome! Let us know you’re coming by sending an email with your name/class year to sundayswithsmithiesbookclub@gmail.com. Can’t come but still want to join? Email so we can let you know about upcoming dates and books.