Shayla Smith Email and Phone Number

Shayla Smith is the Program Manager for Community Engagement and Career Development within the ICUE Connector program at the College of Arts and Sciences. In this pivotal role, she champions personal and social responsibility through innovative service learning and civic engagement initiatives while advancing career readiness by providing students with opportunities to hone their professional skills.A proud alumna of The University of Alabama, Shayla holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in social work. Her career in child welfare spanned 16 years, where she dedicated herself to advocating for the well-being and quality of care for children who experienced abuse and neglect. Since joining her alma mater in 2015, Shayla has significantly impacted the field as the BSW Field Coordinator, overseeing all aspects of field practicum education experiences, from preparation, resource development, practicum preparation, course development, and instruction, to problem resolution.Shayla is a fervent advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, actively promoting these values.Her leadership in the Diversity Committee has been instrumental in continuing the school's tradition of cultivating constructive environments within which we resolve to engage each other with empathy, openness, and respect. The African-American heritage was honored, notably through the Dr. Ethel Hall Colloquium. Shayla also spearheaded the Own Your Vote series, a year-long initiative focused on voter suppression and disenfranchisement, fostering cultural sensitivity and civic-awareness among students and community members.A key player in mobilizing responses to critical events, Shayla has been influential in promoting participation in the George Floyd community march and organizing celebrations honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., including a community march and a book drive in collaboration with Martin L. King Jr. Elementary School.In her role as the inaugural Chief Diversity Officer for the School of Social Work, Shayla was appointed to the leadership team to lead/create inititives. Her commitment extends beyond her professional role as she serves on the boards of Building Bridges Institute for Racial Reconciliation and Freedom Farm Incorporated. The Southern Poverty Law Center selected Ms. Smith as a candidate into the inaugural class of Advocacy Institute fellows where the SPLC staff, subject matter experts, and community stakeholders offer a series of curricula designed to help provide practical, hands-on experience and training in the field of advocacy.