Mae Smith (President)

Mae Smith in the Steward Observatory Mirror Lab
Mae Smith in the Steward Observatory Mirror Lab

Mae Smith, an only child, grew up in a farm family in rural Mississippi and South Carolina. She graduated from Winthrop College with a Bachelor’s major in psychology and minors in biology and sociology. From the University of Florida, she obtained a master’s degree in educational psychology and a doctorate in counseling and psychology. Mae has lived in Mississippi, South Carolina, Florida, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Arizona and Vilnius, Lithuania. She has worked as a psychologist, counselor, and or administrator in a variety of settings including universities, hospitals, public school, community college, federal correctional system, state correctional system, county jail, and she had a private practice in Tucson as a rehabilitation and counseling psychologist for twelve years. She has served as an officer and on the Board of numerous professional and non-profit organizations at the local, state, regional and national/international level, and has performed volunteer service for numerous organizations in Tucson including serving as a trolley conductor, an English-as-a- second language teacher, President of a PTA, and served eleven years on the School Council of University High School. She is now in her 20th year of volunteer activities with Boy Scouts of America and her 18th year as a UA Faculty Senator. Currently, she is Professor Emerita at the University of Arizona and continues to participate in purposeful activity at UA, including serving on CAFT (the Committee for Academic Freedom and Tenure). She is the longest serving member of the Board of the University High School Foundation and Alumni Association and has served for several years on the Executive Council.

Mae became a member of TAAA sixteen years ago as a result of her son’s love for astronomy and the tremendous support and guidance TAAA members gave him. For two years she served on the TAAA Board of Directors as Member-At-Large, served three years as Vice President and was elected President in May 2018. Mae has a deep appreciation for the Club and of the significant, ongoing commitment of TAAA members to sharing their love of the sky. She plans to be a TAAA lifetime member!!