Whether in healthcare, education, criminal justice, or any other field, the opportunity to make a positive impact on people’s lives is always rewarding. Those who choose this path often have a deep sense of commitment and strong desire to create meaningful change in the world. They may serve in a variety of settings, from hospitals to schools, or from nonprofits to governmental agencies, yet the overarching goal is consistent: to make a difference in the lives of those they serve. Dedicating one’s career to serving others requires a keen sense of purpose, an unwavering commitment to improving society, and a willingness to work tirelessly to achieve your objectives. Public service of any kind is a noble and selfless undertaking and one that is truly worthy of admiration and respect.
Thurston Smith is a highly experienced and accomplished individual who has dedicated his entire career to improving the lives of others. As a project team member for Paramount Consulting Group, he provides accreditation readiness, quality assurance, and contract compliance for behavioral health organizations across the United States. In addition to his work there, Smith also served as an Administrative and Program Surveyor for CARF International, an independent accreditor of child and youth, criminal justice, and behavioral health organizations pursuing national accreditation. And, he has held numerous leadership roles with the U.S. Veterans Health Administration, a federal agency in which he recently retired.
Smith is also a community organizer and public policy advisor, who has provided oral testimony before the U.S. Congressional Black Caucus Political Education & Leadership Institute, the Tennessee House of Representatives, and a host of local and municipal governing bodies. In August 2022, Smith was appointed to Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris’s Transition Planning Committee and was subsequently elected Chairman of the mayor’s Healthcare Access Subcommittee. In September 2022, he was selected to serve as Special Projects Advisor for the Center for African American Recovery Development (CAARD), an initiative sponsored by the African American Behavioral Health Center of Excellence at Morehouse School of Medicine and funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
In addition to his other service obligations, Smith has made significant contributions to the community through his service on the Tennessee Community Resource Board of the Tennessee Department of Corrections, as an Associate Minister at New Salem Missionary Baptist Church, and as a member of a national public policy committee, advocating to improve behavioral services in the U.S. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry Degree in Community Wellness & Social Justice at Memphis Theological Seminary and holds a Master of Public Administration degree from Capella University School of Public Service Leadership.
Among the broad list of public officials and other professionals that he’s worked with, former Memphis City Councilman and Shelby County Chief Administrative Officer, Harold Collins says “having served several years with Thurston on the Shelby County Juvenile Justice Consortium and witnessing his commitment to mitigating the adverse effects of disproportionate minority contact and mental health issues of our youth, without question, his skills are replete with professionalism and I’m proud to call him my friend.”
Smith has served as adjunct faculty and guest lecturer at numerous academic and educational institutions across the U.S. and is currently an Associate Professor of Sociology and Psychology at Graceland University, in Lamoni, Iowa, and is a graduate of both Leadership Memphis Executive Class in Tennessee and Leadership Beaufort in South Carolina.
“We all have the responsibility for making our communities better,” Smith insightfully shared.
Most recently, Smith served as the keynote speaker for the Capella University and National Society of Leadership and Success Fall Induction Ceremony and as a guest lecturer for Shelby County Public Defender’s Office and Ben F. Jones Chapter of the National Bar Association, addressing the relationship between mental illness and criminality. Overall, Smith is a highly qualified, dedicated professional who continues to make significant strides in the areas of mental health, public policy, and community service. His expertise and commitment to positively impacting the lives of others will be realized for years to come.
