Kia C. Smith

Kia C. Smith is an experienced professional in academic advising, student support, and mental health services. Currently serving as the Alcohol and Drug Inpatient Services Coordinator and Crisis Intervention/Prevention Specialist at Region 8 Mental Health since April 2020, Kia has a diverse background that includes roles such as K-12 Substitute Teacher at Brookhaven School District and multiple positions at Millsaps College. At Millsaps, Kia was the Director of Academic Advising and Director of Student Support, overseeing the advising and retention of around 1,000 undergraduates and introducing an academic and career-centered advising system. Previous experience includes academic advising at Seattle University and leadership roles at Warner Pacific University, where Kia handled Title IX compliance and leadership development. Kia holds a Master of Arts in Religion with a Counseling Theory emphasis from Warner Pacific University, a Certificate in Servant Leadership from Life Change Leadership Institute, and a Bachelor of Science in Social Sciences with a minor in Psychology from Portland State University.