Simmons College

A Commitment to Community

I have worked at Simmons for 35 years and I am often asked why I have stayed here for so long. The answer is very simple; I am inspired.

Each day I walk into work, I see a quote on the wall: "Simmons educates people who share a passion for learning, a commitment to community, and the determination to make a difference."

I like to think that the Simmons Institute for Leadership and Change (SILC) puts voice to the values and mission of Simmons College. For more than 100 years, Simmons has been an active member of the Boston community, and for the past 20 years SILC has worked with the community to realize those values.

SILC is a vehicle for collaboration and change; it brings together diverse people who are working to advance girls' and women's leadership in our communities. Working with various community partners, SILC connects Simmons to the community, and the community to Simmons. Through lectures, movies, programs, and workshops, SILC brings the richness and complexity of women's and girls' voices from throughout New England — and the world — to the Simmons campus.

I hope that SILC will continue to make a difference in the lives of women and girls far into the future, as we cultivate our commitment to community.

- Diane Hammer
Director of the Simmons Institute for Leadership and Change