Rebecca Washut

Office of Alumnae Relations and Development

Digital Engagement Coordinator

What brought you to Smith?
I'm from Northampton originally and came back to the area after graduating from Keene State College. I started at Smith as a temporary employee in Student Financial Services. After 11 months, I decided I wanted to find a career at Smith and applied for a position with The Smith Fund. Since then, I have worked in various areas of the Office of Alumnae Relations and Development and have been at Smith now for nearly two decades.

What do you do here?
I work with colleagues to create emails for all-alum classes, clubs, career development, international engagement and other communications. I provide support for The Network as well as class and club websites hosted by Smith. I am also in charge of creating the online registration program for Reunion, which includes managing the meals and housing for our returning alums and providing customer service before, during and after.

Please share something you are proud of about the impact of your work.
My work on Reunion is really the highlight of my job. I love partnering with Alumnae Relations staff to put together an accessible registration program. I also enjoy working on the check-in process and providing customer service during the Reunion weekends. I'm happy to see in person so many alums that I connect with remotely during the rest of the year.

What’s your favorite spot on campus?
Trudy's Garden behind the Alumnae House has been a favorite spot for me. It's quiet, and the gardens are beautiful. I also enjoy the statue located there, Bittern Mother and Chick by Eliot Offner. Professor Ofner was a good friend of my father's, and I love to see his beautiful work every day.

How has your background prepared you for your current job at Smith?
My degree is in communication with a minor in English, and I find that I use the techniques I learned in my work each day. All of my jobs have incorporated an element of customer service and helping alums with technical questions is really no different. I've always had an affinity for technology and have found it easy to explain information to people who may be having trouble.

When you’re not working or traveling for Smith, what are you most likely to be found doing?
I have a Goldendoodle named Gus who is eight years old, and you'll often find him with me wherever I go. I love to hike, downhill ski, read fiction and go to the movies. I row crew with Northampton Community Rowing, so if you're up at 5 a.m., you might see me out on the Connecticut River with my team!

What are you reading/watching/digging into these days?
The most recent season of The Great British Baking Show is out on Netflix, so I'm making sure to watch the new episodes weekly. I've been steadily reading the Outlander series, which I enjoy immensely. The level of historical research combined with fiction is so interesting to me!

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
I would love to visit my family in San Sebastian, Spain, to see where my great-grandparents came from. I would also love to take a hiking trip through the Scottish Highlands.

Favorite Smith tradition?
Illumination