Ashley Smith is the executive director of The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence of Central Mississippi (NCADD). NCADD provides education about alcoholism, tobacco, and other drug addictions as treatable diseases. A passionate advocate of well-being-related social causes, Ashley values diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. With over a decade of experience, she is an expert at building and nurturing partnerships and developing creative strategies to influence policies effectively.
Ashley’s past experience includes serving as an evaluator, academic instructor, and non-profit administrator. She used her project management and human resource experience to refine and streamline processes in these roles. In addition, as NCADD’s primary spokesperson, she draws from her extensive history of serving Mississippi’s communities to understand the organization’s goals and objectives and convey them to stakeholders.
Before joining NCADD, Smith served as Senior Regional Recruiter for the Alabama and Mississippi Region of the American Red Cross. In this role, she successfully identified, cultivated, and maintained relationships with key organizations, coordinated statewide special events, and supported preparation, response, and recovery activities for local disasters. Ashley’s career path demonstrates her dedication to serving others and her community. Among other roles in the non-profit sector, she has served as the Special Projects Director for The Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi, expanding community partnerships and implementing an innovative fund development plan to increase corporate and in-kind giving.
Smith is passionate about seeking ways to address disparities in underserved populations. To this end, she has secured federal and private funding for initiatives aimed at these causes throughout her career. She is a forward-thinker who has demonstrated her commitment to community improvement. She provides cultural competency training and expounds on her strategic planning and project management skills to advance non-profits through substantial growth and transition.
Ashley Smith is a wife and hands-on mom of two who is as passionate about her community as her family. She is also proud to be a sustaining member of the Junior League of Jackson and readily commits her time and talents through volunteerism with other local organizations. In addition, Ashley enjoys reading, designing tablespaces, and restoring midcentury furniture in her spare time. Ashley’s foundation for success began when she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication from Tougaloo College and a Master of Arts in Sociology from Jackson State University.
For more information, please get in touch with Ashley Smith at asmith@ncaddms.org or 601-899-5880.
