Smith's College Awards Levine With Honorary Degree
In a moment that has reignited fierce debate over women’s spaces, identity, and institutional integrity, Smith College—a private women’s liberal arts institution in Massachusetts—honored Admiral Rachel Levine, a biological male and former Biden administration official, at its 2025 commencement ceremony.
Levine, who served as Assistant Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, was not only awarded an honorary degree but also delivered the keynote address to the graduating class.
“News of the college’s selection of Levine prompted protests from multiple groups.” pic.twitter.com/2c0VHRE1r1
— Ashley Brasfield (@BrasfieldAshley) May 21, 2025
Smith’s official program listed Levine as a “Physician, Public Health Advocate,” celebrating a career dedicated to the “intersection of mental and physical health.” But for many alumnae, students, and advocacy groups, the inclusion of Levine—a transgender-identifying individual—at an event designed to celebrate and elevate women’s achievement was a sharp betrayal of the college’s original mission.
Protests swiftly followed. Outside the May 17 and 18 ceremonies, demonstrators from Women’s Declaration International USA (WDI USA), Democrats for an Informed Approach to Gender (DIAG), New England Women in Solidarity (NEWS), and the Independent Women’s Network (IWN) gathered to voice their disapproval. A banner reading “Class of 19XX: We Remember When Women Were Adult Human Females” captured the essence of their frustration—what they see as the erosion of biological definitions of womanhood in favor of ideological conformity.
A woman in a Transformers shirt has just called us fascists for carrying a banner which reads that women are adult human females. https://t.co/SoCqRijH7e pic.twitter.com/1aXZi7sg5Z
— WDI.USA (@WDI_USA) May 17, 2025
The groups distributed flyers and literature detailing Levine’s policy record and criticized Smith for awarding accolades to someone they argue occupies a space meant for women. Reactions from onlookers ranged from quiet support to, according to organizers, even “enraged and incoherent yelling” from one dissenting individual.
Tomorrow, @smithcollege—a historically women’s college—will award Richard “Rachel” Levine an honorary degree. Levine, who pretends to be a woman, will then speak at commencement.
We’re on the ground in Northampton, MA to show our support for women. Just chatted with some alum… pic.twitter.com/x3AoLITlF0
— WDI.USA (@WDI_USA) May 17, 2025
On the political right, the backlash was swift and sharp. Olivia Krolczyk, a fellow in the Leadership Institute’s Women’s Leadership Program, condemned the move in no uncertain terms. “It seems the recognition of men disguised as women has not come to an end,” she said, adding that Smith College had placed ideology above fairness and urging students and donors to turn away from the institution.