INDIANAPOLIS – Education nonprofit and leadership development organization Teach For America Indianapolis (TFA Indy) today announces the appointment of Larry Smith to the Board of Directors. Larry Smith is the founder and CEO of Leading Edge Advisory Firm, an advisory and consulting firm that helps organizations across the nation improve efficiency and effectiveness. 

Larry Smith brings more than 20 years of experience as an executive in the private, nonprofit and academic sectors. Larry previously served as the managing director of the Tobias Center for Leadership Excellence at Indiana University. He has also held roles as the senior vice president of organizational leadership at the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis, and director of the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. Larry was a recipient of Indianapolis Business Journal’s “Forty Under 40” award and “Indy’s Best & Brightest” Junior Achievement award.

As TFA Indy’s newest board member, Larry Smith will work with the Board of Directors to support and guide the organization as it strives to end educational inequity. TFA Indy is committed to maintaining a board diverse in race and professional background with a shared commitment for expanding educational opportunity for all students in Indianapolis. 

“I decided to join the TFA board of directors due to my lifelong passion of acquiring and promoting education,” said Smith. “Specifically, l am committed to helping to ensure that young people who are economically disadvantaged have access to a high quality education. I very much look forward to continuing my personal mission to fight on behalf of students - most of whom l will never meet. TFA's leaders - faculty, staff and board - all share that commitment.”

TFA Indy’s Board of Directors is comprised of 12 community leaders, who, combined, have served the organization for nearly 60 years. TFA Indy’s Board of Directors include Aman Brar, CEO of Jobvite; John Ackerman, managing director of Cardinal Equity Partners; Andre Bennin, managing partner of Newu Venture Partners; Aleesia Johnson, superintendent at Indianapolis Public Schools; David Harris, partner at The City Fund; Michael Huber, president & CEO of Indy Chamber; J.A. Lacy, president and CEO, LDI, Ltd.; Glenn Lyon, former chairman and CEO of The Finish Line; Christina M. Ricks, M.D., pediatric emergency medicine, Eskenazi Health; Lisa Sablosky, Community Leader; Larry Smith, founder and CEO of Leading Edge Advisory Firm, Elcira Villarreal, Ph.D., retired director of global scientific communications for oncology at Eli Lilly and Company. 

For more information on Teach For America Indianapolis, visit https://www.teachforamerica.org/where-we-work/indianapolis. For more information on the Board of Directors, visit https://www.teachforamerica.org/where-we-work/indianapolis/our-community/board-leadership.