Ruth J. Simmons delivered the Smith College Commencement address on Sunday, May 18, 2014. Noting that “the collision of views and ideologies is in the DNA of the academic enterprise,” Simmons, former president of Smith and Brown University, challenged the Class of 2014 to “gird yourselves for moments of criticism, doubt and challenge.” She advised the graduates to “take good care of your voice” and “take the time to discover who you are in the fullness of your intellect, identity and abilities because you will need to stand your ground effectively to be credible leaders.”