Kelli Smith | LGT Class of 2026
What’s a risk you took in your career that paid off?
To go for advancement opportunities as they come and not let the fear of hearing “you are not the successful candidate” stop me from trying. I did not get every job I applied for throughout my career. However, I learned from each opportunity which made me more resilient and confident.
What do you enjoy most about Topeka?
I love the rich history of Topeka and try to share it with others. I fondly remember taking one of my college classmates to visit the Kansas State Capitol building because they had never visited it before, even though they grew up in Kansas. I will never forget the look on their face when we arrived.
If you could instantly solve one community challenge, what would it be?
Transforming the Topeka Riverfront. I have visited many different cities that offer beautiful riverwalks. It was fascinating to see so many people utilizing those spaces for reasons like housing, recreation, shopping, visiting a museum or choosing a restaurant. I would love to see Topeka achieve something similar.
What is a fun fact about you that might surprise people?
I originally planned on having a career in wildlife studies. I even spent multiple semesters collecting research samples in the field and extracting mitochondrial DNA from them for one of my teaching assistants. Shortly after I obtained my biology degree, I took a little break to determine what I wanted to research. That’s when I accidentally started working at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library and never left.
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