Ruth Johnson Smiley

Ruth Johnson Smiley, a descendant of 1780s German

settlers, grew up on an East Tennessee farm. She holds

degrees from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville,

where she became the first woman to earn a PhD in Agricultural

and Resource Economics. With experience at Oak Ridge National

Laboratory and teaching economics at Pellissippi State

Community College, her career bridges academia and research.

She received the Tennessee Economic Council on Women’s

Award for Excellence and Equity in 2011 for her advocacy for

women and girls. Smiley co-edited Tennessee Women of Vision and

Courage, an anthology of historic Tennessee women.