Laura Smith’s Exploratory Spirit: If It’s Not the Right Way We’ll Go a Different Way

Laura Smith, a proud graduate of Idaho State University (ISU), is the Vice President of Community Development at Idaho Central Credit Union (ICCU) in Pocatello, Idaho.

A 2004 graduate, Laura earned her bachelor’s degree in mass communication and marketing and a minor in music.

Her career at ICCU began in 2005, where she now oversees public relations, social media, internal and external events, and nonprofit collaborations. Laura credits her ISU education with helping her develop a unique skill set that blends creativity, communication, and leadership.

Growing up in Idaho Falls, ISU was a natural choice for Laura. “ISU was cost-effective, close to home, and offered opportunities to explore,” she shares. She delved into different areas and found courses which suited her exploratory spirit.

Laura grew up in a medical family—her father is a doctor, and her mother is a nurse—which inspired her to pursue pre-med credit hours in college. At the same time, she was drawn to public relations. During high school, she completed a public relations internship at a hospital in Idaho Falls, solidifying her interest in exploring both fields further.

Laura fondly recalls her involvement in ISU’s music program, particularly as a member of Scott Anderson’s choir, where she had such a great time that she completed a minor in music. She also particularly enjoyed her time in graphic design with Paula Jull, whom she credits with helping to bring out her creativity.

As a journalism student when 9/11 happened, Laura had a unique opportunity to study this event in real-time.  She says that the experience of applying journalism to real life situations was a big learning experience and that the timing for the class was influential on her career and education.

Laura recalls an important life lesson from the college’s dean at the time. She accompanied him and a few other students on a trip to the Legislature in Boise. Since GPS wasn’t available then, they had to rely on a printed map. Laura was tasked with giving directions, but at one point, she made a mistake that led them to a dead end. Feeling “mortified,” she braced for a reprimand. Instead, the dean calmly reassured her, saying, “It’s no big deal if we go the wrong way—we can always turn around and go a different way.”

That moment left a lasting impression on Laura, teaching her how to engage with people she found intimidating and to embrace the idea of trying, even if mistakes happen. “If it’s not the right way, we’ll go a different way,” she says.

Laura’s time at ISU was filled with memorable experiences, such as organizing a marketing event for Honda as part of a class project. Tasked with leading a team that managed all aspects of the campaign, Laura discovered her talent for bringing people and ideas together. “That project really showed me what my skills and talents are,” she says.

Laura was working as a server during college when she met a hospital administrator who recruited her for a job to work at a small hospital doing community outreach. Laura says this was perfect for her medical and PR background. A year later, she joined ICCU, initially working in underwriting. She took the time to learn about the company and then moved into a marketing job, then a management position overseeing community development, where she has thrived for the past 15 years.

Laura says her position didn’t exist at ICCU when she started with the company. She credits her ability to piece together different areas, through her educational experiences, as helping her to innovate in her career.

Laura’s advice to current and prospective students is simple yet profound: “Give it your all. Don’t take the time for granted. Say yes to opportunities that come your way.” She emphasizes the importance of building connections with professors and peers, exploring diverse interests, and staying open to unexpected career paths. 

She also advises students not to downplay what they learn from any class: “A class experience may make you succeed in an interview. It is always interesting when you can have conversations with people about all kinds of stuff. It doesn't have to always be in one focus area.”

“You don’t have to specialize in just one thing,” she says. “Being versatile and curious can open doors you didn’t know existed.”

Today, Laura remains connected to ISU, whether through her involvement in the choir or attending Bengal sporting events. She has even had the opportunity to sing The National Anthem at ISU graduations. 

“I made lifelong friends and explored many areas of interest,” she says, “and the greatest part of this is that those memories have not gone away. I get to work with ISU all the time for my job now.”

Laura and her family at an ISU game

About our contributors:

Rudo Chigweshe, an international student from Zimbabwe, is pursuing a Ph.D. in English and the Teaching of English at Idaho State University. Prior to entering the program, she earned a master’s degree in Communication, Media, and Persuasion from ISU in May 2020. Her academic focus centers on gender studies and the concept of militant motherhood in African literature.

Suparna Sinha is a PhD Student and Graduate Teaching Assistant at Idaho State University. She is an international student from India, and is currently in her fifth semester of study. Her areas of interest include Postcolonial Eco-Feminist Literature and Dalit Literature. She has presented in international conferences like the DEI in Education conference held at ISU, the54th and 55th NeMLA Conventions, the WLA 2023, and the IGC conferences in 2023 and 2024. Her hobbies include solving cryptic puzzles, writing articles on positivity in her blog, and knitting.