Steeley Smith Named Texas Tech University System Student Regent
June 14, 2023 | Contact: Scott Lacefield
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has appointed Steeley Smith as the student regent for the Texas Tech University System (TTU System) Board of Regents for the 2023-24 academic year, Abbott’s office announced Tuesday (June 13).
Smith, from Mason, Texas, and a high school graduate from Mason High School, is a graduate student at Texas Tech University (TTU) pursuing a master’s degree in agribusiness from the Department of Agricultural & Applied Economics in the TTU Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources. She earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural communication from the Davis College in 2021 and received a master’s degree in media and mass communications from the TTU College of Media and Communication in 2022.
Smith becomes the 18th student to serve on the Board of Regents and the sixth student from TTU.
Lawrence Schovanec, Ph.D.“Steeley is driven, ambitious and hard-working – all characteristics that will serve her well as the student regent,” said TTU President Lawrence Schovanec. “Her involvement as a student at Texas Tech and experience working in various government and public service offices will greatly benefit Steeley in this role. I am pleased she has been appointed to the Board and expect she will find much success representing the viewpoints of our diverse student bodies.”
Smith earned a pair of minors in agribusiness and political science during her undergraduate studies and graduated magna cum laude. She was a President’s List and Dean’s List recipient and a member of the Mortar Board Honor Society and Texas Tech Terry Scholars. In addition, she received “Top 10 Freshmen” recognition during her first year.
She served as the advertising sales manager for The Agriculturist, a student publication of the Department of Agricultural Education & Communications in the Davis College, where she won a pair of national honors for feature writing and student publication. Smith also was involved with Agriculture Future of America and attended several conferences across the country.
Smith graduated summa cum laude with a Master of Art degree and spent a year in the TTU School of Law, where she was heavily involved in several programs, including the Organization of Women Law Students, Raider Bar Association, Texas Young Lawyers Association and State Bar of Texas, among others.
She currently serves as the coordinator for the TTU Government & Public Service Internship Program, where she oversees networking and business development with U.S. Capitol and Texas Capitol offices and organizes and manages student interns who represent TTU in Washington, D.C., and in Austin, Texas.
Smith’s first experience in the nation’s capital was serving as a public policy intern for U.S. Rep. Michael Conaway (TX-11), where she assisted as a communications point between constituents and the congressman.
Tedd L. Mitchell, M.D.Smith also served as a campaign assistant for U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington (TX-19) where she advocated campaign messages for stakeholder support and assisted in the campaigns strategic planning to address goals and issues.
“The student regent position ensures a voice for our students as the Board of Regents discuss and consider issues that affect our student population of approximately 63,000 students across the five universities of the Texas Tech University System,” said Tedd L. Mitchell, M.D., chancellor of the TTU System. “On behalf of our system, I’d like to congratulate Steeley on her appointment and welcome her as our next student regent.”
Smith will serve a one-year term, effective immediately and set to expire on May 31, 2024. Her first Board of Regents meeting will take place Aug. 10-11 at the TTU System Building in Lubbock. She replaces Hani Michael Annabi of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, who was appointed in 2022.
About the Texas Tech University System
Established in 1996, the Texas Tech University System is one of the top public university
systems in the nation, consisting of five universities – Texas Tech University, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Angelo State University, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso and Midwestern State University.
Headquartered in Lubbock, Texas, the TTU System is a $2.65 billion enterprise focused on advancing higher education, health care, research and outreach with approximately 21,000 employees and 63,000 students, more than 375,000 alumni, a statewide economic impact of $16.4 billion and an endowment valued at $1.7 billion. In its short history, the TTU System has grown tremendously and is nationally acclaimed, operating at 26 academic locations in 22 cities (20 in Texas, 2 international).
In addition, the TTU System is one of only nine in the nation to offer programs for undergraduate, medical, law, nursing, pharmacy, dental and veterinary education, among other academic areas.