We are delighted to welcome Erin Smith to the Center for Communicating Science! 

    Smith began her work at the center January 2 as project coordinator for community engagement initiatives, a role that will boost the center’s mission to create and support experiences for scientists, engineers, scholars, and health professionals to build their muscles of connection, communication, and collaboration.

    “I am thrilled to be joining the Center for Communicating Science team,” Smith said. “I’m excited for the opportunity to contribute to the center’s mission of fostering impactful communication across boundaries and making science accessible and meaningful for all.”

    With a strong foundation in community outreach, event management, activism, and facilitating meaningful dialogue with diverse groups, Smith is passionate about using her skills to positively impact individuals and communities through social change.

    “The center’s vision aligns with my belief in the arts to empower individuals and groups, amplify marginalized voices, and deepen understanding and empathy,” she said.

    Smith will work closely with leadership of the Center for Communicating Science at Virginia Tech to organize, support, and integrate all of our activities that are focused on community engagement. She will serve as a bridge between the center and its organizational and financial collaborators. 

    “We have been dreaming of hiring someone just like Erin for a long time,” said Patty Raun, director of the Center for Communicating Science. “We always try to stretch our resources as far as they can possibly go, and this year, with the wonderful support from the university’s COMPASS Center we were able to pull together the resources to make our dream a reality. Erin will bring important perspectives and capacities to our team. We couldn’t be more excited to grow and change with Erin as a core collaborator.”

    Smith’s service as a board member for the Agency for Diversity and Inclusivity at the University of Nebraska and Community Programs Coordinator for Conscious Impact in Nepal provided her experience with developing community-focused initiatives that brought diverse groups together for collective transformation. With a move from Nebraska to South Carolina and then the New River Valley in recent years, along with the launch of a small business, Smith said she has reinforced her ability to leverage complex problem-solving skills and client-centered services.

    Please join us in welcoming Erin Smith to Virginia Tech!