LEX18.com - Lexington, KY

Posted: May 1, 2009 4:29 PM
Updated: May 19, 2010 9:47 AM

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Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Years at station: Started in December, 2000
Position: News Anchor/Reporter
Newscasts: LEX18 News at Sunrise, Noon and 12:30 pm.
Other professional experience: Membership coordinator/Temple University Public Radio, Promotions Manager/WJJZ-FM Philadelphia, Instructor/Morris College, Anchor-Reporter/WIS News Radio 1320 Columbia, Anchor-Reporter/South Carolina Educational Television, Columbia, Anchor-Reporter/WOLO-TV, Columbia, Anchor-Reporter/WXLV-TV, Winston-Salem, Adjunct Instructor, North Carolina A&T State University.
Awards/recognitions: 2004 Lexington-Fayette Urban County Division of Police - Certificate of Appreciation Award for Community Support, 2003 YMCA Black Achiever, 2002 Emmy Nominee for Anchoring, 2002 Kentucky Special Needs Adoption program, 2001 Kentucky Personnel Cabinet Service Appreciation Award, 2000 Community Service Image Award, 1998 National Education Association Award for Advancement of Education through Broadcasting.
Education: Master of Journalism, Temple University, Bachelor of Arts, University of Georgia.
Hobbies/Interests: Learning foreign languages, travel and collecting international dolls.
Community involvement: Board Member - Special Needs Adoption, Board Member - YMCA Black Achievers, Speaker - 2002 University of Kentucky Women in Media, Panelist - Lexington Mayoral debates, Motivational speaker - Various Public/Private grade schools and universities.
Family: Husband - Ray Smith, Daughter - Rania De Vane Smith
Pet: Female Pekingese - Chiang Mei Lei.
Favorite book: The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran.
Favorite movie: The Way We Were.
What I like most about the area: Lexington is a beautiful place to live and grow professionally! Since moving to the Bluegrass, I've learned how to ride a horse and continue to develop a special appreciation for stylish Derby hats.
Describe your most interesting assignment: The most interesting assignment to date -- covering the 2003 ice storms here in Central Kentucky. Staying on the air for nearly 7 hours straight on just one day, sharing information and helping my neighbors get through a difficult time, was physically a challenge. Professionally, it was a thrill!!