Sonya G. Smith, EdD, JD is the senior vice president for access, diversity and inclusion at the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) in Washington, DC. She has served as the associate vice chancellor for student affairs & enrollment services and associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC). Dr. Smith worked at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), previously serving as the associate vice chancellor for academic affairs/chief student affairs officer; associate professor of health services research administration in the College of Public Health. Prior to her appointment at UNMC, she served as the associate to the President; assistant vice president of academic affairs for diversity for the University of Nebraska Central Administration.
Dr. Smith’s experiences include serving as a public policy consultant for seven (7) years for the Office of the General Counsel - Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration, Tennessee Department of Health - General Counsel’s Office, and the TennCare Bureau in the areas of healthcare policy development, health inequities, legislation, regulation, and access issues related to underrepresented and vulnerable populations. She serves on numerous committees and is a member of the National Hispanic Medical Association – Health Scholars Advisory Committee and the National Medical Fellowship – National Advisory Council Primary Care Leadership Program. Additionally, Dr. Smith served two terms as the vice chair, Health Law Section, Diversity Committee for the American Bar Association. Dr. Smith holds a BS in History, MEd in Curriculum & Instruction, and an EdS in Administration & Supervision from Middle Tennessee State University. She received her doctorate in Higher Education Administration and a doctorate of jurisprudence from Vanderbilt University, and completed a certificate in international law at the Tulane University Institute of European Legal Studies in Paris, France.
