We are so excited to share this mama with you all! Sherri carr smith is the Director of Communications and Marketing for Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and an overall rockstar mom who enjoys nothing more than time with her family… and of course, all things Mississippi State! 🐾

Sherri Carr Smith was born in Greenwood, Mississippi, but has spent most of her life on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. She graduated from Gulfport High School in 1982 and then attended Mississippi State University where she received a Bachelors of Arts degree in Communications.  After graduating from MSU she worked for the university for two years as an Admissions Counselor and then had the opportunity to move to Washington, DC to work for Senator Trent Lott as his Deputy Press Secretary. After working on Capitol Hill, she decided to further her education and attended The George Washington University where she earned a Masters Degree in Higher Education Administration. 

After living away for many years she decided it was time to come back to Mississippi to raise her family.  Sherri enjoyed being a stay at home mother and a very active community volunteer for many years before going back to work.  When she returned to work she went back to school and obtained her alternate route teaching license and taught school for three years at East Hancock Elementary School and two years at Coast Episcopal School.  Then in November 2008, she was hired to help develop the Bay-Waveland Main Street program and served as its Executive Director for two years.  In January 2011, she had the privilege to serve as Deputy Campaign Manager for Billy Hewes in his state-wide campaign for Lieutenant Governor. When his campaign ended she made the decision to return to the classroom and taught fourth grade at North Bay Elementary School in the Bay-Waveland School District for the next two years.  

In July 2013, Sherri had the opportunity to take a new position with the Secretary of State as his South Mississippi Service Coordinator in Gulfport where she managed a variety of special projects for Secretary Hosemann and also served as a regional coordinator for Voter ID.  In March of 2016 she was promoted to Assistant Secretary of State for External Marketing where she continued to play a key role in marketing the agency and programs like Y’all Business and Promote the Vote.  

Sherri has lived on the Gulf Coast over 30 years.  She has two sons and both are graduates of Mississippi State University.  Nolan (29) presently works in Little Rock, Arkansas, as a financial analyst and Nicholas (27) is a project landscape designer in Franklin, Tennessee.  

Sherri has always been an active community leader serving as President of the Gulfport Junior Auxiliary, a board member for the Lynn Meadows Discovery Center, and Vice-President of the Bay Area Youth Soccer Association.  She is a graduate of Leadership Hancock County, the Gulf Coast Business Council’s Masters Class, Leadership Gulf Coast, and Leadership Mississippi.  

Sherri continues to be very involved in her community and recently served as President for the Gulfport Rotary Club.  She also served as the Community Service chairman for the Public Relations Association of Mississippi, Mississippi Beach Chapter, and presently serves on the board for Extra Table, a non-profit organization that works to assist food pantries throughout our State in feeding those in need. She serves on the Advisory Board for the Salvation Army and the Harrison County Beautification Commission.  Sherri was honored to serve on the Redesign the Flag Committee, appointed by Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann in 2020.   

Her true passion is MSU and all things maroon and white!  She is the past president of the Hancock County Alumni Chapter and also received the Distinguished Service Award for MSU in 2013.  Sherri served on the MSU Alumni Association’s Board of Directors for over 10 years and was honored to serve as their National President from 2019 - 2021.    

When we asked sherri for some advice to share with all the mamas out there, here’s what she had to say: 

“As my children have grown up and begun starting families of their own, my advice to them and other parents is to remain actively involved in their children’s lives and cherish those special moments! It may seem like they will always be small and need all your attention, but time flies by before you know it. Show them all the love, guidance, support, and encouragement they need to grow into amazing people and parents themselves. Never take anything for granted and treasure the time you have with them, equipping them with the tools they need to become successful and remarkable individuals.”

Her favorite quote: “Mothers hold their children’s hands for a short while, but their hearts forever.”

Thank you for the chance to feature you, Sherri! Scroll through all of our mom features HERE!