Chief Executive Officer
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Alissa Smith was selected to be the new NAAE Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective October 1, 2020. In this assignment, Alissa leads this not-for-profit education-related professional membership association, which serves agricultural education professionals throughout the United States and its territories. In partnership with the NAAE board of directors, Alissa is responsible for the short- and long-term success of the organization by overseeing the leadership and management of the organization. Alissa will work with the board of directors and staff to assure NAAE’s relevance to school-based agricultural education and NAAE members, the accomplishment of organization’s mission, vision and strategic plan, and the accountability of the organization to its members.
Prior to her appointment as CEO, Alissa was NAAE Associate Executive Director with lead responsibilities for NAAE's professional development initiatives, including but not limited to, the National Agriscience Teacher Ambassadors, Teachers Turn the Key, and eXcellence in Leadership for Retention (XLR8). She also managed most of the NAAE professional staff functions including communications/marketing, meeting planning, and membership.
A Kentucky native, Alissa earned B.S. and M.S. degrees in agricultural education from the University of Kentucky. Before joining the NAAE staff in July 2006, she taught agriculture for five and one-half years in the Jessamine County Schools in Nicholasville, Kentucky.
Alissa and her husband, Jonathan, have two delightful daughters, Remie and Bracie. As a family, they are busy with the girls' sports activities, raising and showing Boer goats, and breeding Corgis and Australian Shepherds.
