Rickell Howard Smith

Rickell Howard Smith has a diverse work experience in the nonprofit sector. Most recently, they served as the President & Chief Executive Officer of the YWCA Greater Cincinnati starting in February 2023. Prior to that, they were the Founding Executive Director of the Center for Social Justice at the Urban League of Greater SW Ohio from August 2020 to December 2022. Before that, they worked at the Greater Cincinnati Foundation as a Senior Director, Community Strategies from January 2019 to August 2020. Additionally, Rickell held positions at the Children's Law Center, Inc. as the Ohio Director of Litigation and Policy from July 2014 to January 2019, at the Ohio Justice & Policy Center as an Attorney/Project Director, Human Rights in Prison Project from November 2011 to June 2014, and at the Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati as an Attorney from April 2006 to October 2011, where they specialized in civil matters such as public benefits, housing, and unemployment compensation.

Rickell Howard Smith earned a J.D. in Public Interest Law from Temple University - James E. Beasley School of Law from 2002 to 2006. Prior to that, they obtained a BBA in International Business from Howard University between 1998 and 2002. Rickell completed their secondary education at Walnut Hills High School, where they obtained a diploma from 1992 to 1998.