Jaymi Smith
MPS Class of 2027, Global Development
- Pronouns: She/her
- Grand challenge: Identifying and strengthening the role of local business models in fostering social change, particularly through regenerative agricultural practices that promote community resilience and sustainable development.
- Connect: Email: kmk349 [at] cornell.edu or sjaymi21 [at] gmail.com
Jaymi Smith is passionate about community-driven development, sustainable solutions, and the ways local knowledge can shape lasting change. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Global Studies with a minor in Peace and Conflict Studies from Penn State Berks, where she developed an interest in international development, cross-cultural collaboration, and equitable approaches to addressing complex challenges.
Prior to graduate school, Jaymi served as a Community Economic Development Volunteer with the Peace Corps in Timor-Leste, where she supported agricultural training initiatives, and collaborated with local partners on organizational capacity building, grant writing, and project design. These experiences strengthened her commitment to supporting locally led development and building partnerships across cultures.