Erin Smith is the Project Coordinator for Community Outreach at the COMPASS Center as well as the Center for Communicating Science at Virginia Tech. She supports both centers’ efforts to equip researchers with the tools to connect with communities and to communicate clearly and meaningfully across differences, contributing to a more informed and resilient society. She holds bachelor’s degrees in Global Strategic Studies and Non-profit Management from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. With experience in mission-driven programming, event coordination, and community-based initiatives, her work is grounded in the belief that dialogue, creativity, and shared experience are powerful tools for social change.