Bio:  Council member Alesia Smith is originally from Chicago, IL and moved to Clemson 23 years ago.

Alesia has worked in higher education for 28 years. She received both her Bachelor’s degree in Communications and Master’s in Political Science with a concentration in Public Administration from Illinois State University in Normal, IL. She also started her professional career in higher education as a Judicial Counselor at Illinois State University and worked her way up to Assistant Director.  She accepted the position at Clemson University as the Director of Student Judicial Services in 1996. In 2008, the office expanded under Alesia’s leadership and became the Office of Community and Ethical Standards, and in 2014, she was promoted to Associate Dean of Students/Director and Deputy Title IX Coordinator. In 2016, Alesia was promoted to her current role as the Executive Director of Equity Compliance and Title IX Coordinator. She is a respected resource having participated on national panel discussions, assumed leadership roles in the regional and national organizations, and presented numerous workshops and presentations.

Alesia has been actively involved in the community. She was the PTO President for the former Morrison Elementary School during the construction of Clemson Elementary. She served on the Advisory Board for the City of Clemson Police Department and completed the Citizen’s Police Academy.  In addition, the Clemson Community knows her as Coach Smith as she served as a basketball coach for the Central/Clemson Recreation Department, Palmetto Team Youth Association, Tri-County Technical College, Pickens High School, and RC Edwards Middle School. Alesia was selected as the 2018 Citizen of the Year by the Kappa Gamma Gamma Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

She is a member of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Seneca, SC where she serves as the Deputy Clerk and is a member of the Usher Board, Gospel Choir, and Pastor’s Aid Ministry. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, Anderson Alumnae Chapter and the Clemson-Calhoun Rotary Club.

As much as Alesia loves serving her community, she loves her family even more. She is married to Bryant K. Smith, and they have four adult children, Latrice, Aramus, Sherece, and Darien.