THE CHAMPION FOR CHANGE
Alys Smith
Co-founder Wing 2 Wing Foundation, First Lady of Marshall University, Attorney
SUPERPOWER: Inspiring authenticity and trust in others
The pursuit of equal opportunity has always been a pillar of Alys Smith’s life. Her mother was denied entry to medical school because of her gender. When Smith was a child, she and her sister were told they weren’t able to play T-ball because it was only for boys. Once they got older, they were barred from what was traditionally a “father and son” golf tournament at their parents’ country club. And throughout adulthood, she encountered harassment and mistreatment that far too many women are familiar with. “The power differential between men and women that allows these things to happen has made me a champion for women and the underdogs in society,” she says.
Now, as co-founder of the Wing 2 Wing Foundation, founder of the Women Warriors Summit, a law professional licensed to practice in four different states, and First Lady of Marshall University, Smith has made it clear that the sky’s the limit—no matter what her gender is. The Wing 2 Wing Foundation invests in education, entrepreneurship, and environmental endeavors throughout West Virginia. Her position as First Lady of Marshall has allowed her to make invaluable connections throughout the state, and that has bolstered the work she does through the Women Warriors Summit, where she works to empower women in every facet of life. “I want to help teach women how to have courageous conversations and to speak up when it matters,” she says. “Because if women can learn to speak up when it matters most, they can change their lives.”
CHECK OUT OUR OTHER 2023 WEST VIRGINIA WONDER WOMEN
Learn more about our Wonder Women
Since 2014 WV Living magazine has been honoring West Virginia Wonder Women, amazing women who are raising the bar in their communities, serving as beacons of light in their industries, and forcing change for the greater good. WV Living is proud to celebrate these Appalachian mothers, millennials, and mavens proving that in a time full of uncertainty, divisiveness, and hate, love for one another is all we really need. No need for bulletproof bracelets or a golden lasso of truth—these women are creating a better West Virginia with their can-do attitudes and Mountain State spirit.
Leave a Reply