Drawn to The Ohio State University by both familiarity and possibility, Scholars senior Allison Smith found herself immersed in a large environment where passion is immeasurable, and a sense of community comes naturally. She now channels those same passions into post‑graduation leadership and advocacy for gender equality.
Smith is a logistics management major with a minor in communication and a member of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Scholars program. Smith viewed Ohio State as the best choice of school for her academic and professional goals. She wanted to stay in Ohio, attend school in a big city, and take advantage of Ohio State’s extensive alumni network, which could lead to internships.
“From a logical perspective, I knew Ohio State would be the best choice, but it truly felt right during my campus visit,” Smith said.
During her visit, she experienced firsthand the passion other Buckeyes had for the school. Smith and her father went into his old residence hall, now known as Smith-Steeb Hall, which was previously just Smith Hall. They toured a room and spoke with the students living there. Smith recalls, “They were so excited to show us their space and talk about how much they loved OSU.” She then talked to other students in the common areas to gauge their opinions on the university. “Their kindness and passion for OSU showed me that Buckeyes were the type of people I wanted to surround myself with,” she says.
Confident in her decision, Smith found an even stronger sense of community through both her Scholars program, job, and campus organizations.
Smith joined the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Scholars program, explaining that she was curious about potentially taking over her parents’ business in the future. However, Scholars became more than just another organization. It allowed her to gain valuable professional connections that guided her academic journey.
During her sophomore year, she served as Student Co-Director on the leadership board. This position led Smith to host an event with Jeff Schumann, an Ohio State alum and the CEO of Aware, which was acquired by Mimecast in 2024. She says, “Overall, this leadership experience and networking helped me secure an internship after my sophomore year.”
Alongside being a Scholars student, Smith began working at the front desk of the Kuhn Honors and Scholars House during her sophomore year and was promoted to manager in her junior year.
“Sitting at the front desk with the same colleague for long shifts fosters deeper personal connections,” Smith says, reflecting on the people who have led her to where she is now, adding, ”At my job, Katy Gullo has been an important role model for me and taught me to lead with compassion and kindness.”
Smith is also part of Ohio State's Women in Business, a student organization that empowers women through professional development, philanthropy, and social events. She earned a spot on the Women’s Month committee during her freshman year and has served on the executive board every year since. The organization has given Smith long-lasting friendships and a space to express herself fully. It also opened the door to several notable opportunities, including attending Women in Business conferences for the past 3 years, hosted by New York University and Harvard University, with her peers on the executive board.
Through Women in Business, Smith expanded her involvement in community service. She shares, “I’ve had the opportunity to volunteer at Period Pantry, Sanctuary Night, Junior Achievement, and Ruling Our eXperiences (ROX).” She also presented at the Dean's Advisory Council and attended the Fisher Alumni Awards, where she had the opportunity to sit next to Archie Griffin and his wife, Bonita Griffin.
“The opportunity to have dinner with Archie Griffin was definitely a highlight of my college experience that would not have been possible without my role in WIB.”
Smith’s work in the club led to collaborations with other organizations. Collaborating with Ohio State’s Council of Black Students in Administration (CBSA), Smith helped to make a Black Women in Business panel, showcasing two impressive women from the Dean's Advisory Council. The event was highly successful, winning an award for Outstanding Collaboration Between Organizations at the end of the 2024-2025 academic year.
Smith attributes much of her success to the staff members who guided her throughout her academic journey.
Smith thanks her Scholars Program Managers, Ashley Lippincott and Shannon Bradley, for giving her the courage to jump at all opportunities. She also mentions many staff members from the Fisher School of Business who have been irreplaceable on her journey to success:“Twhila Dowdy from Fisher’s Office of ACCESS has been instrumental in my opportunities to experience conferences across the country and shown me how to navigate change with grace and passion.” She added Rich Brown and Caitlin Hutchinson from Fisher’s Office of Advancement, who “...opened doors for me that I did not even realize existed.”
Guided by the staff who believed in her most, Smith continues to pay that legacy forward. Through her leadership in Women in Business, her continued support as a front desk worker, and her empowering volunteering, Smith secured a spot in DHL Supply Chain's Transportation Rotational Program after she graduates this spring. The program gives her the opportunity to work her way up to become a Transportation Manager at the company. This program fast‑tracks her to management positions and represents a significant step toward her long‑term goal of becoming a C‑suite executive.
Smith will continue her gender equality leadership as well, saying, “I am passionate about gender equality in the workplace and hope to work towards closing the gender leadership gap in corporate America. I also want to be a role model for women in leadership because I think women should be in all rooms where decisions are being made.”
