DIII Week Student-Athlete Profile: Heather Smith, Cross Country/Track & Field

As part of NCAA Division III Week, Wellesley Athletics will feature daily profiles that will provide an opportunity to meet our outstanding Division III student-athletes. Each profile will touch on multiple aspects of the student-athlete experience, including: on and off the field accomplishments, leadership and community involvement and what being a Division III student-athlete means to them.

Our next profile focuses on senior Heather Smith. The Detroit, Michigan native transferred to Wellesley from Spelman College in 2013 and has been a member of the cross country and track & field programs ever since. 

What Academic Accomplishment are you most proud of during your time at Wellesley?

"I'm most proud that my Wellesley education led me to apply and be accepted at Tufts School of Dental Medicine. I will attend Tufts in the fall of 2016, which has been a goal of mine since my first year of college. I have gained so much by being surrounded by such a diverse group of professors, students, and faculty, and feel beyond prepared for dental school and all that life sends my way."

What Athletic Accomplishment are you most proud of during your time at Wellesley?

"I'm most proud that I was able to accompany the cross country team to Nationals in Ohio in 2014 as an alternate. This was an unforgettable experience because the entire team worked so hard to accomplish the goal to make it to nationals and earn a great deal of recognition! It was so cool to leave a mark in history since this was the team's third appearance at nationals, and the first since 1986."

What Leadership and/or Community Involvement projects have you been involved with?

"On campus I am the president of the Pre-Dental Society, a help room organic chemistry tutor, member of Ethos Organization for Students of African Descent, and have been a part of Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (S.A.A.C.) as a cross country representative. I also work at the Wellesley Dental Group in Wellesley Hills and volunteer at the American Red Cross in my hometown of Detroit."

What has your experience as a Wellesley student-athlete meant to you?

"My experience as a Wellesley student-athlete has been amazing. I transferred to Wellesley from Spelman College, after the college's decision to discontinue the entire athletic program. After running cross country and track in high school, I knew that athletics played an important role in my life and that I wanted to continue running in college. To me, being a student-athlete at Wellesley is invaluable because I have formed friendships that will carry on for the rest of my life. I have also gained perseverance, endurance, communication and time management skills, sportsmanship, responsibility, and self-confidence. These characteristics have ultimately supported my academic and career goals."

A must see for any runner, Heather and her teammates visit "Wellesley" on the Boston Marathon course.