As Smith’s new president, I have been enormously impressed to learn about our integrated history and 150-year relationship with Northampton. We will continue to be the neighbor who answers the knock at our door, cherishing the city we call home.

I have been especially pleased to learn all of the ways in which the college has taken neighborliness to heart to support the city and its public schools. We regularly donate computer equipment to the school system, offer Northampton High School students the opportunity to take Smith courses tuition-free, and offer John M. Greene Hall for the Northampton High School and Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School graduation ceremonies. And this year, we answered the call to help rebuild the horticulture building at Smith Vocational.

Smith contributes to several nonprofits — including the Academy of Music and Safe Passage — contributes to the tax base, and has donated directly to the city of Northampton and Mass General Brigham Cooley Dickinson Hospital.

Our geothermal project will help the city achieve its carbon neutrality goals. Our students founded Smith’s Food Rescue Network, donating 11 tons of food over the last 18 months to Manna and reducing food insecurity for Northampton residents. Smith faculty, staff and students regularly volunteer throughout Northampton, and the city’s cultural offerings are enriched by the scores of free lectures and performances available on campus, as well as by our gardens, libraries, Museum of Art, and athletics events.

As members of the Smith College community, we, too, are deeply enriched by the city.

Smith’s carefully invested endowment —neither a piggy bank nor a rainy day fund — allows the college to carry out its mission “to develop leaders to address society’s challenges.” Interest from the endowment provides financial aid to two-thirds of our students and covers 45% of our annual operating budget. This allows Smith to remain a perpetual institution, enrolling qualified students from every background without regard to financial circumstance.

And while we cannot by law veer from that mission, we can continue to be good neighbors. The futures of Smith and Northampton are linked, and we look forward to partnering with Northampton to address the roots of its financial challenges together and for the long term.

Sarah Willie-LeBreton is president of Smith College.