Emily Smith
Land & Water Conservation Policy Manager
Emily makes Michigan's beautiful, diverse ecosystems and waters strong, clean, and available to everyone. She does this by crafting the best solutions to our natural area's threats and bringing them to lawmakers and other movers and shakers at the Capitol to inspire change.
Smith joined the staff in May 2022 after serving over five years as a legislative analyst for the Michigan House of Representatives Fiscal Agency. There she analyzed, summarized and educated lawmakers on agriculture, natural resources, outdoor recreation and energy legislation.
Prior, she was a law extern with the Legal Services of South Central Michigan, a law intern with the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, and a court observer and researcher for cases involving the Indian Child Welfare Act.
Smith honed her skills at Ferris State University's Honors program, receiving a bachelor's degree in psychology with minors in political science and professional writing. She then received a juris doctorate from Michigan State University with a certificate in Indigenous law and policy.
In addition to her work at the Environmental Council, Smith can be found making her community better by volunteering with Lansing's Westside Neighborhood Association and preventing abuse and neglect through the Children Trust Michigan.
When away from work, Smith enjoys taking on home projects with her spouse Matt, spending quality time with her son Hawthorn, and snuggling with her cats Banjo and Morton and her dog Ava. You may also find Smith swimming, fishing, kayaking, and collecting rocks (a self-prescribed problem) just about anywhere in Michigan, from the Lansing area to the shores of Lake Superior.