Alumna Sharon Smith JD ’86: Building an environment for future leaders

In 2017, Sharon Smith became a General Counsel for the Bend-La Pine School District. For 26 years, she enjoyed a robust practice with Bryant, Lovlien & Jarvis, with a focus on real estate, land use, and development. The school district was one of Sharon’s clients, and she found she was ready for a move at the same time it made sense for the District to bring someone in-house.

In some ways, Sharon’s current work takes her back to her roots. She grew up in a family of educators in Eugene, Oregon. Her mother, Hazel Smith, taught math at Lane Community College, and her father, Norman Smith was a marketing professor in the University of Oregon College of Business.

Sharon’s deep background in land use and contracting policy has been a great match for a rapidly growing school district. Since 1991, Sharon has assisted the Bend La-Pine District in building 17 new schools, renovating older schools and adjusting to Bend’s growing population, which has almost quadrupled in the last 30 years.

The work can be challenging, but Sharon loves that she gets to wear “the white hat,” when working for the Bend La-Pine School District.  Not only does her work support the building of new schools, Sharon values the District’s goals. She deeply appreciates that she works with so many smart and dedicated people who are doing everything they can to create the best learning environment for our future leaders.

Sharon has also volunteered for many public improvement efforts. She has served on numerous boards addressing local development issues. Twenty years ago, she co-founded the Safe School Alliance, which formed to improve school safety after the deadly shooting at Thurston High School. This September, she is excited to begin a gubernatorial appointment as one of five Oregon Transportation Commissioners who oversee the Oregon Department of Transportation.