Faculty Profile: Larry Smith

Larry J. Smith is a lifelong Memphian; born in 1957, he has been happy to call Memphis his home for all his life. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Science Education in 1980 and law degree in 1993 both earned from the University of Memphis.  Passed the bar the first time too!!

He has always been interested in the environment and the outdoors. After law school, he worked as a community organizer for the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center in their toxics awareness program. In 1997 he went on to be the first executive director of the Wolf River for Conservancy. A local, and still thriving, river and wetland protection land trust.  In 2003 he left the not for profit world and entered the government sector, still in the field of environmental protection. He headed up the Shelby County Environmental Programs office and then the Air Quality Improvement Branch.  He is now the assistant manager of Air Pollution Control for Shelby County TN.

He enjoys the outdoors with his wife Naomi Van Tol and Daughter Rosa. They enjoy exploring anywhere and by any means, be it  car, bike, canoe or on foot. Larry also enjoys fishing and hunting and an occasional wild caving trip with the family too.