The Huntsville Museum of Art welcomes Ina Wilson Smith, Ed. D. as a new museum board member. Dr. Smith is a lifelong resident of Huntsville and an active volunteer in the community. Her goal is to assist wherever possible to make the performing and visual arts affordable and accessible to the entire community.
Dr. Smith joined the museum foundation in 2018 and served as governance chair, vice chair and foundation representative to the museum collections committee. She also volunteered with the African American History month committee planning events such as the Ethel Waters opening, Jared Small exhibit and Voices of our Times with Ambassador Andrew Young, Mary Badham and Wil Haygood.
She has volunteered with the Huntsville Museum of Art Guild for several years. As a museum guild member since 2014 she served as finance chair, treasurer, assistant treasurer, and on the nominating committee. Her committee work includes hostessing receptions for exhibition openings and assisting the education department with monthly Drop In and Create Days. She was awarded the Guild’s Rising Star award in 2019.
Dr. Smith is an active status member of the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Guild currently serving as nominating committee chair and Silver Tea chair. Through the symphony guild, Dr. Smith volunteers with the annual Young Artists’ Auditions, and serves on the communications and Symphony Ball committees. She served as the youth orchestra liaison from 2018-2020. She co-chaired the Crescen-Dough Auction in April 2020, incorporating online bidding and assisting with the implementation of the first completely online Crescen-Dough auction. Dr. Smith served as Guild president from 2022-2023. She joined the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Association Board of Trustees later in 2020 and continues to volunteer on their governance committee.
Dr. Smith is a sustaining member of the Junior League of Huntsville. While an active member, she was a council assistant, training committee chair, treasurer, and finance vice president. She participated in League wide events including Apple Annie, American Girl fundraiser and backpack meal preparation for Title I schools, all supporting the League mission of youth and literacy.
In 2009, at the invitation of a church member, she began volunteering with Kairos prison ministry. Since then, she has worked several outside teams, assisted her husband when he was a weekend leader and been treasurer and donor coordinator of the local council. She is currently concluding her three-year term as state treasurer.
Dr. Smith is also a member of the North Alabama American Red Cross Board of Directors currently on the volunteer engagement/appreciation committee.
Dr. Smith holds an earned doctorate in higher education from Morgan State University. She is the Compliance Coordinator/Policy Administrator at Huntsville City Schools. She is married to Garrett Cassius Smith, a CIS instructor and systems engineer. They are both violinists in the local music community.