Amy Smith, a professor of Media & Communication at Salem State University, earned her Ph.D in Media and Communication from Bowling Green State University. Her research interests are varied and include community building, conflict communication and mediation, gender and media, organizational communication, and family communication. In the classroom Amy uses the guiding principle of “meet them where they are” to foster meaningful relationships with students and help them achieve their highest potential. Amy regularly presents her research at the National Communication Association Annual Conference, where she also serves as reviewer and respondent to multiple divisions and interest groups. Her publications include Tracing family lines: The impact of women’s genealogy research on family communication (2012), Family genealogy and family communication: Finding common ground (2016, Genealogy), and her forthcoming book, titled Crafting community: Essays on fiber arts and belonging (2023, McFarland Press).