Alumni News | Sociology’s Osborne-Smith is Executive Director with Job and Family Services

Tammy Osborne-Smith

In November of 2013, Tammy Osborne-Smith ’99 ’03M had the honor of accepting the position of Executive Director with the Jackson County Department of Job and Family Services. After having been involved with both state and local government for nearly two decades, it seemed to her like an incredible opportunity for her to align her passion for both public service and staff development.

Osborne-Smith graduated from University College at Ohio University with a B.S. in Specialized Studies, with a focus on Business and Interpersonal Communications and minor in Psychology, followed by an M.A. in Sociology from the College of Arts & Sciences.

In addition to serving as the agency’s executive director, she is the secretary of the Ohio Job and Family Services Directors’ Association, president of the Southeast District of the Ohio Job and Family Services Directors’ Association, an appointed member of Ohio’s Southeast Regional Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Council, and a member of the Jackson County Economic Development Partnership.

Having grown up in Appalachia, Osborne-Smith has a deep admiration and compassion for the families that these organizations serve in Southeastern Ohio. As the director of a quadruple combined agency, she is often challenged by the scope and range of barriers that both children and families confront on a daily basis.

Her experiences at OHIO assisted in generating a deeper desire for her to help those struggling individuals. Maintaining an understanding of the most vulnerable populations, regardless of their culture or class, and serving them with compassion, empathy and kindness are critical elements to the work that she and her staff are responsible for… and, are most certainly key takeaways from her experience while in college in Athens.

“I consider myself fortunate for having studied under a significant team of mentors, including Christine Mattley, who augmented my understanding of the fundamental social dynamics involving those that I now serve in my community,” Osborne-Smith says.