Virginia Smith, Vassar president from 1977-1986, passes away at 87

Virginia Smith, Vassar's president from 1977-1986, passed away last week at 87. A leader in higher education, she worked to expand access to Vassar by recruiting heavily from community colleges and low-income students. She dramatically increased the College's endowment, leading a $100 million fundraising effort. The New York Times published her obituary this morning. Catharine Hill, the College's current president, said the following of Smith:

“Virginia Smith led Vassar College during important years of its development into an exceptional coeducational institution. Her leadership of an extraordinary fundraising program to strengthen the institution and her innovative support of expanded access to liberal arts education were among the important accomplishments of her presidency, on which Vassar continues to build today."

A great personal tidbit from the Times obituary was that Smith was chosen to lead Vassar from over 450 candidates. When asked why she had been selected, she replied matter-of-factly, “Because I was the best qualified.” Her confidence and leadership will surely be missed by all Brewers, past and present, as we move into Vassar's sesquicentennial year.