Books Are Wings

Jennifer Smith joined Books Are Wings as its new Executive Director in January of 2023. As a passionate advocate for access and equity throughout her career, she is strongly drawn to the Books Are Wings mission.
Jennifer’s career includes more than twenty five years’ experience planning, researching, and evaluating education and public health programs with diverse audiences, with a special focus on community programs. She comes to Books Are Wings from the New Bedford Whaling Museum, where she served as Manager of Institutional Relations. As the Program Director at the Downtown Providence Parks Conservancy she focused on creating high quality, accessible educational, arts, cultural, and recreational programming for public audiences, building partnerships, and fostering community. As a researcher at the Harvard Family Research Project, she worked on education projects in early childhood development, family involvement, and the out-of-school-time field. Jennifer earned a Masters Degree in Education from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Clark University.
“As a child, books were my best friends and tickets to faraway places and unknown experiences. As a parent, I have experienced the bond and the developmental benefits of reading with my child from an early age. As a professional, I have developed programs that ignite a love for books. I am inspired by the power of Books Are Wings to transform the lives of children by providing access to books and fostering a love of reading, and honored to help carry out its mission.”