Mary L. Smith, Illinois Patron Fellow, Becomes President-Elect of the American Bar Association

Mary Smith, Photo courtesy of ABA Diversity and Inclusion Center

Mary L. Smith, Illinois Patron Fellow, became the president-elect of the American Bar Association (ABA) at the closing of the ABA’s House of Delegates on August 9^th. This puts her on track to become the first female Native American president of the ABA, in August 2023.

Smith is currently vice-chair and partner at the VENG Group and also a senior fellow at Freedman Consulting, LLC. She previously served the ABA in a multitude of ways, including 7 years on the ABA Board of Governors (2009-2012 and 2016-2020), the ABA secretary (2017-2020), the ABA House of Delegates (2007-2012 and 2013-2022).

Smith is a past president of the National Native American Bar Association and past president and founder of the National Native American Bar Foundation. After being confirmed as the president-elect, Smith spoke to the House of Delegates.