Dartmouth Alumni Awards
Tracey Salmon-Smith '87: Dartmouth Alumni Award Recipient, 2014-15

Tracey Salmon-SmithTracey Salmon-Smith '87 (left) was presented the 2014-15 Dartmouth Alumni Award by Lou Spelios '95, president of the Alumni Council, at the 209th Alumni Council Session on October 24, 2014.
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As far back as you can remember, your parents emphasized the importance of education to you and your three younger brothers. As a teenager, you decided to pursue a career in law, and you have never wavered from this plan.

Dartmouth was fortunate when you accepted an invitation for admitted students to attend a "Discover Dartmouth" weekend on campus. During this gathering, you fell in love with our alma mater, met your future close friend and roommate Laurie Lopes '87, and the deal was sealed. As an undergraduate, you immersed yourself in campus activities, participating in the Afro-American Society, Palaeopitus, student government, Green Key Society, Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, and the Cobra senior society. The ultimate multitasker, you played a crucial role as manager of the football team. One of your favorite memories is walking across the Ledyard Bridge from Norwich to Hanover with the senior football players when the team bus returned from your last away football game.

Other highlights as a student involved opportunities to interact with alumni through the Black Alumni of Dartmouth Association (BADA) events. You have noted the major influence of alumni such as Dartmouth trustee Ben Wilson '73 and Vernon Baker '75, and it was appropriate that you received the Gary Love '76 Award for Excellence in African/Afro-American Studies during that time. Gary, like you, is one of a select few Dartmouth alumni to be awarded both the Young Alumni Distinguished Service Award and the Dartmouth Alumni Award.

The ink was barely dry on your Dartmouth diploma when you commenced your law school studies at Villanova University. We have barely kept up as your spectacular law career has skyrocketed. Stops along the way have included the Long Island law firm of Rivkin Radler; the Office of the United States Attorney; the law firm of Sills Cummis Radin et al, PA; and UBS Financial Services, Inc. In 2010, you joined Bressler, Amery & Ross, P.C., where you recently became a partner. Your litigation resume is deep and diverse, with experience in labor and employment law, securities law, and commercial litigation, among other areas. While serving as Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, you received recognition from federal agencies for excellence in litigation.

Upon graduation, you wanted to share your Dartmouth experience with others, and immediately joined the admissions recruitment effort. Your volunteer roles have expanded by leaps and bounds, including terms as president, vice president, class and participation agent, reunion chair, and member of the reunion giving committee for the great Class of 1987. After receiving the Young Alumni Distinguished Service Award, you were voted chair of that committee, and served on the Alumni Council as a member of both the Executive and the Nominating and Alumni Trustee Search Committees. Cherishing the impact BADA alumni had on your student experience, you have led this affiliated group as president. Dedicated to your profession, you have also served as vice president of the Dartmouth Lawyers Association. As if this weren't enough, last year you stepped in to fill the vacancy as district enrollment director of your New Jersey district.

The whirlwind of your life is no less hectic when it comes to your civic involvement. Fiercely dedicated to the law, you are on the board of directors of the New York Lawyers for the Public Interest; and are a member of the Corporate Counsel Women of Color and the New York State, City of New York, National, Metropolitan Black, and American Bar Associations. In addition, you have volunteered for the Special Olympics and are a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

With this schedule, it would appear that you would have little time for a personal life, but we should never doubt the "multitasker extraordinaire." Mutual friends introduced you to your husband, Loyston Smith, and you are the very proud parents of two fabulous daughters, Gabi and Avery. The apples don't fall far from the tree, and, by all appearances, Gabi and Avery are just as active as their parents.

Your photo should appear with the phrase Benjamin Franklin made famous, "If you want something done, ask a busy person." Tracey, in recognition of your extraordinary accomplishments and dedication to your profession, community, family, and alma mater, we proudly present you with the Dartmouth Alumni Award.