BY GREG LINDBERG | PHOTOS BY CHRISTINE PETKOV
The ATHENA Leadership Award recognizes individuals who demonstrate leadership, contribute significantly to their communities and actively help women advance into leadership roles.
The Greater Lafayette community recently celebrated an extraordinary leader whose work has strengthened emergency preparedness, expanded opportunities for young people and uplifted underserved populations. Ashley Smith, community disaster program manager for the American Red Cross in Greater Lafayette, was named the recipient of the 2025 ATHENA Leadership Award, an internationally recognized honor celebrating women who demonstrate excellence in leadership while empowering others.
Reflecting on the award Smith says, “Personally, I am so humbled by this honor. I did not expect it. It means so much to me. Professionally, I am honored.”
Smith continues, “And taken a bit aback for being nominated. Words cannot describe the appreciation I have for my co-workers, the board members I have served with and all of the volunteers I have been so honored to work alongside.”
Established in 1982 by ATHENA International, the ATHENA Leadership Award recognizes individuals who excel in their professions, contribute significantly to their communities and actively support the advancement of women into leadership roles. Today, the award is presented in more than 500 communities worldwide and has been given to more than 8,000 leaders, including notable figures such as Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Billie Jean King and Condoleezza Rice.
In the Greater Lafayette area, the award is presented locally through a partnership among Greater Lafayette Commerce, the Association of Women Business Owners (AWBO) and the Ladies Lunch Network (LLN).
“The ATHENA Leadership Award recognizes individuals who demonstrate leadership in business or profession, contribute significantly to their communities and actively help women advance into leadership roles,” presenter Betty Nelson said during the award ceremony last November at the Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds.
Smith’s leadership
Smith’s professional work with the American Red Cross has made a measurable impact across Greater Lafayette. In her role as Community Disaster Program Manager, she has strengthened the organization’s ability to respond quickly and effectively during emergencies. Under her leadership, the Red Cross has improved volunteer response times, expanded disaster relief capacity and increased outreach efforts to reach underserved populations throughout the region.
One of Smith’s most impactful initiatives has been the development of a bilingual disaster preparedness program designed to address language and accessibility barriers that can prevent families from receiving critical safety information. Since the program’s launch, more than 1,500 households have been trained in emergency readiness, helping families better prepare for fires, severe weather and other emergencies.
“Sometimes people do not realize they have a voice and it should be used,” Smith says. “We all have a reason to be heard. Everyone’s voice matters. When we are mentoring, sometimes it assists with building people’s confidence and empowering them to utilize their voices.” Smith continues, “Watching people grow throughout the time I have spent with them is an indescribable feeling. When you see someone that you mentored grow professionally, sometimes personally and knowing I had a very tiny part in assisting them to be just a little bit better at something, is the best part of being a mentor.”
Developing partnerships
Smith also has invested heavily in developing the next generation of community leaders and volunteers. Through partnerships with local high schools, Purdue University and Ivy Tech Community College, she helped establish Red Cross clubs and training programs that provide students with hands-on instruction in CPR, first aid and crisis leadership. These initiatives not only equip students with lifesaving skills but also encourage a lifelong commitment to public service.
Beyond disaster preparedness and youth engagement, Smith’s work has consistently focused on equity, inclusion and community collaboration. Locally, she partnered with PRIDE Lafayette to expand access to blood donations for LGBTQ+ residents.
Her dedication has earned recognition from numerous organizations, including the Indiana General Assembly and the City of Lafayette, where Mayor Tony Roswarski awarded her a Certificate of Appreciation for her service. Pride Lafayette also has recognized her impact by naming its Ashley Smith Award for Dedication and Leadership in her honor.
“These efforts continue to produce volunteers who step forward when disaster strikes,” Nelson said during the award presentation, highlighting Smith’s lasting influence on the region’s volunteer network and emergency preparedness initiatives.
Striving to include, inspire
For Smith, the recognition reflects years of dedication to building stronger, safer and more inclusive communities across Greater Lafayette.
“I look forward to helping with community mobilization and ensuring that Greater Lafayette is prepared for whatever disaster that may occur,” says Smith when discussing future goals. “Home fires are the biggest disaster we typically face, and I would love to see more of our community involved in our Disaster Action Team. We have volunteers 18 to 90 who help with home fire responses.”
As the 2025 ATHENA Leadership Award recipient, Smith joins a global network of leaders who exemplify the power of service, mentorship and community leadership. Her work demonstrates that strong leadership is not only about responding to challenges but also about empowering others to rise alongside you.
