Marion Roach Smith ‘77
Major: Government
Profession: Author and Freelance Writer
Hometown: Troy, NY

After growing up in NYC, coming to Canton for college was a culture shock for Marion Roach. But her experiences and relationships at St. Lawrence helped to change her perspective and to see the world in a new way. As a result, she came to appreciate the North Country.

When Marion began at St. Lawrence University, she already knew that she wanted to be a writer. She majored in government in order to expand her knowledge of politics and government. She also participated in the Kenya Program, which helped her further expand and broaden her views of the world. She learned that one needs to have a holistic way of looking at the world in order to have an open mind. Marion also did volunteer work as a student at St. Lawrence, which helped her to be respectful of her community and to give back to it. Her love for the physical beauty and culture of the Adirondacks and the North Country helped her to develop an appreciation for people and cultures different from those that she had known in NYC.

Her experiences at St. Lawrence helped her to learn the importance of doing what she believes in. She is a full time writer who has authored two books, a regular contributor to the Science section of the New York Times, and a commentator for National Public Radio. She says her experiences at St. Lawrence “helped round me out, not sharpen me up.”