Kendra Smith, AICP serves as Vice President, Community Health with Bon Secours Mercy Health (BSMH). As a national thought and practice leader in community development, affordable housing development, urban planning, and social determinants of health, she provides direction and oversight on collaborative community health priorities, community investment strategies and efforts that address social determinants of health and health inequities in the health system’s 12 markets. Previously, Smith served in executive and leadership roles with ProMedica, Preferred Properties, Inc., and the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning leading community-based initiatives focused on financing and constructing affordable and accessible housing, community engagement, land use and housing policy, community investment, health equity and partnership development.
Kendra holds a Master of Public Health degree from Kent State University and a masters degree in urban studies with a focus on neighborhood and community development from Cleveland State University with additional degrees and certifications from Ohio University, Harvard University Kennedy School of Government and La Universidad Pública de Navarra in Pamplona, Spain. She is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP).
Kendra enjoys being active in the community and serves on multiple local and national boards and advisory councils and recently completed a 3 year appointment to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors Community Advisory Council. She is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., a 2023 YWCA Milestones Woman on the Rise recipient, 2022 Inductee to the Euclid High School Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame, an alumna of the 2021 cohort of the McKinsey Black Executive Leadership Program, Leadership Ohio Class of 2020 and 2017 recipient of Toledo’s 20 Under 40 Leadership Award.