Smith earned her MFA from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and her BA from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA. She has exhibited and lectured nationally and internationally, with exhibitions in Chicago, Kansas City, the Twin Cities, Dallas, and Miami and Seattle metros. She was a visiting artist at Temple University, Rome, Italy, and was awarded a residency at Art 342 in Fort Collins, CO. Smith has taught at Indiana University and Minnesota State University, Mankato, and is currently Visiting Assistant Professor and Gallery Director at Doane College in NE.