By Journalist Liv Kopang (OSU)
In the dynamic arena of student governance, Lindsey Smith emerges as a prominent figure within the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature. As a dedicated senator, Smith has distinguished herself through her passion for advocacy, commitment to public service, and unwavering dedication to representing the voices of her peers.
Smith’s journey into student leadership began with a desire to make a difference in her campus community. Recognizing the importance of civic engagement and the power of collective action, she immersed herself in student government activities, where her leadership potential quickly became apparent.
She is currently a Policy Intern with the Oklahoma State Senate Democratic Leadership Staff where she works under Anna Langthorn, who is the Democratic Chief of Staff.
As a part of her internship experience, she had the opportunity to go on a group tour of the Oklahoma capitol building dome, including the outside terrace which offers a beautiful view of Oklahoma City.
Describing her experience when taking the tour, Smith said that what she really enjoyed about the dome tour was “understanding the infrastructure of the capitol better, how it was built. We saw the original foundation which was really cool. I also really loved seeing all the signatures across it. On the inside of the dome you can sign your name on the wall to show that you’ve been there and I recognized other people I know that have been there, representatives and senators so it was really neat to see other people that have gone on that tour.”
Smith’s leadership style is characterized by her ability to listen empathetically, communicate effectively, and collaborate with her fellow senators to discover real issues facing Oklahoma citizens. Whether listening to her peers’ bills about promoting mental health awareness initiatives, or advocating for causes she’s passionate about like domestic violence and violence against women in the state of Oklahoma, she consistently demonstrates a steadfast commitment to enact positive change.