First Lady, Marshall University; Co-founder, Wing 2 Wing Foundation;Founder, Women Warriors Summit
By Megan Bevins
Throughout her dynamic career, Alys Portman Smith has been a constant advocate for those without a voice, a champion for women and a firm believer that there is potential for success everywhere—especially here in the Mountain State.
Smith was raised in Akron, Ohio, with her twin sister, Lauren, and younger brother, Stuart. She was introduced to law at a very early age by her father, a trial lawyer who valued moments with his family conducting lively debates or spending quality time outdoors golfing
and playing tennis.
Her mother, who earned three graduate degrees but chose to stay home to raise her three children, was Smith’s first example of female empowerment. Having been denied entry to medical school for being a woman, Smith’s mother taught her children the importance of gender equality and instilled in her daughters that they could do anything they set their minds to.
“It was an upbringing rooted in love, integrity and a deep belief in the power of education and equality,” she says. “For us, it was truly idyllic.”
With a love for people and desire to help others, Smith originally dreamed of going into the medical field but ultimately decided law school would better suit her interests. She received a bachelor’s degree in premed and biology from The Ohio State University, then a law degree from the University of Akron Law School.
Smith says while in law school, she enjoyed embracing different perspectives on cases and participating in discussions and debates that helped shape her problem-solving skills. However, her biggest challenge was facing a professor who thought women didn’t belong in law school.
“This taught me to stand up for myself no matter the consequences because I wasn’t only fighting for myself but for all the women who would follow me,” she says.
Smith’s first legal role involved prosecuting consumer fraud cases at the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, where she helped fight for those who suffered losses due to scams. Staying in this role for a year, Smith then transitioned to workers’ compensation trials, defending the State of Ohio. She then spent many years passing bar exams that allowed her to practice across the country in states like Ohio, Connecticut and New Jersey in different areas of law.
“I loved that no two cases were ever the same,” she says. “Each one taught me something new, kept me curious and gave me the chance to work independently while still collaborating when needed.”
Smith spent time in Georgia working with contracts, human resources, employment law, mergers and acquisitions before moving to California to start her own mediation practice. There, she worked with divorces and employment and contract disputes.
In 2022, Smith passed the West Virginia bar to become a Guardian ad Litem, stepping into what she describes as one of the most challenging yet deeply rewarding roles of her career—advocating for foster children in abuse and neglect cases. She still holds this position today and says the most fulfilling part of the job is knowing she may have had a hand in giving a child a better future.
“As a mother, it’s heartbreaking to witness the trauma so many of these children face, often as a result of a parent’s substance use disorder,” Smith says. “While reunification with biological parents is always the goal, recovery is rarely linear. That means children may remain in foster care for extended periods, sometimes separated from siblings, and even face repeated removals if a relapse occurs.”
Along with her many professional accomplishments, Smith is passionate about uplifting her community, participating in a myriad of community service efforts that have helped make a substantial impact on the state she calls home.
One example is her role as co-founder of the Wing 2 Wing Foundation along with her husband, Brad, whom she also serves alongside as first lady of Marshall University. Smith says Wing 2 Wing operates on three pillars—education, entrepreneurship and environment—because they work together to create lasting change.
“In Appalachia, where potential is abundant but opportunity has often been scarce, these three pillars work together to help people not just survive but thrive,” she says. “Our goal is to invest in people and help communities rise on their own terms.”
Smith is also the chair of the New Horizons Committee at the West Virginia First Foundation; co-chair of the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute; board member of The Education Alliance, the Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences and the New Opportunity School for Women; and founder of Marshall University’s BOLD Leadership Academy and the Women Warriors Summit. Out of all her successes, Smith considers the Women’s Warriors Summit to be one of the greatest, as she worked hard to make the dream a reality and is able to help hundreds of men and women excel in their work and personal lives through the program.
“What inspires me is the belief that potential is everywhere, but opportunity is not,” she says. “I’ve seen what happens when a woman is given the tools to lead, a student is given a path forward or a community is given the resources to heal. Whether it’s through the Women Warriors Summit, the Wing 2 Wing Foundation, as first lady of Marshall University or the organizations I’m honored to serve, my work is driven by a deep desire to create those moments where someone feels seen, supported and empowered to rise. That’s what keeps me going.”
Smith also served as mentor for young at-risk Latina women as part of the Court Appointed Special Advocates Association and currently for women in leadership programs who seek her advice.
“Mentoring is one of the most important things I have done because it creates a bridge between potential and possibility,” she says. “I know I don’t just provide guidance but affirmation, which can be the catalyst that changes the course of someone’s life or career.”
Smith currently resides with her husband in Huntington, WV, at the President’s House, where she enjoys walks in the park, spending time outdoors and watching community members appreciate nature. One of her greatest joys in life is being a mother to her two daughters, Payton and Devon. She is also an avid golfer and loves to travel, embracing every opportunity to explore new places.
After living in states across the country, including Silicon Valley, she says the Mountain State stands out for how its communities uplift their neighbors.
She hopes to one day help West Virginians develop an abundant mindset, where they take what they have and make the most of it. She says with this new mindset, the state can begin to write a new story rooted in possibility.
“This state is filled with talent, grit and heart, but for too long its communities have been overlooked,” Smith says. “I am here because I see what’s possible when people are given the resources and support they deserve. West Virginians don’t need to be told what they lack, they need to be believed in. I believe in them fully.”
