AYS Alumni Council Spotlight: Karin Smoot

ATLANTA — Triple Panther Karin Smoot (B.A. ’01, B.A. ’08, M.P.A. ’22) embodies the spirit of lifelong learning and adaptability. Her journey at Georgia State spans more than two decades, encompassing roles as a student, staff member and now an engaged alumna.

Smoot’s academic path was anything but linear. She began it with a HOPE Scholarship, initially pursuing geology at the University of West Georgia before transferring to Georgia State to study journalism. Her talent quickly propelled her from feature writer to editor of the campus newspaper, The Signal, as involvement in campus activities proved crucial for Smoot.

“I found a mentor in journalist and publisher Alexis Scott, a granddaughter of W.A. Scott II, the founder of the Atlanta Daily World,” she said. “It solidified the importance of being involved in campus events and student organizations.”

This connection, along with her membership in the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists, helped her land a job at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution before graduation. After graduation, she worked as a writer for the Marietta Daily Journal and the Douglas Neighbor. She then decided to return to Georgia State as a staff member, where she worked in the admissions office of the College of Education and Human Development.

“The director of admissions remembered me as a student assistant and praised my work ethic,” she said. “It was another testament to the importance of building connections.”

Leveraging the Tuition Assistance Program, Smoot earned a second bachelor’s degree, in English literature, at Georgia State while working full time. She later pursued her M.P.A. at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, graduating in 2022.

“Hearing my daughter scream in support as I walked across the stage – it was everything coming full circle,” she said. “You can accomplish anything. But trust the process.”

As a special projects manager, Smoot oversaw the renovation of the Wolf Creek Amphitheater for the City of South Fulton and revamped the customer care department for the City of East Point. Today, she is a project manager at MARTA, a role that combines her diverse interests and skills.

“I’ve always had an affinity for Earth, environmental sustainability and communications,” she explained. “I was intentional about my next career steps making sense.”

For Smoot, Georgia State is more than just an educational institution.

“Georgia State University is a microcosm of what you’re going to experience when you get outside in the world,” she said.

Wanting to give back to the school through a medley of her unique experiences and skills, she decided to join the AYS Alumni Council where she now serves as a Marketing and Communications Committee member. The connections and lifelong relationships she developed during her time at Georgia State, both as a student and staff member, made her keep in constant contact with the institution through its social media channels.

“The legacy of Andrew Young was enough for me to know that this is where I’m supposed to be,” she added.

Smoot advises students to focus on two key principles: avoid burning bridges and approach their education with a mindset that prioritizes not only what they can gain but also what they can contribute.

She also encourages perseverance, a guiding mantra in her career progression.

“Don’t be discouraged by qualification requirements for internships or fellowships that you may not fully meet. You have options, but you have to have the will to go out there and search for it.”

Are you an alum of the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies? To connect with alumni like Karin Smoot, learn more about how you can get involved with the AYS Alumni Council and stay updated on AYS news and opportunities, click here.

- By AYSPS graduate student assistant Ayomidotun Olugbenle (M.A. in Political Science)