Lia Smith

Delivered personalized, anticipatory service to an international clientele at one of Okinawa’s premier luxury properties, upholding The Ritz-Carlton’s legendary Gold Standards of service excellence.

- Served as the primary point of contact for VIP and returning guests, curating bespoke experiences tailored to individual preferences and cultural backgrounds
- Coordinated dining reservations, priva

Selected for a competitive virtual academic preparation program supporting student diversity for graduate study in education, the humanities, and social sciences. Focuses on scholarship and commitment to social justice, equity, and access in education.

Selected for a competitive 10-month virtual academic preparation program supporting student diversity for those pursuing graduate study programs in education, the humanities, and social sciences. I was selected alongside ~100 students for outstanding scholarship and commitment to addressing issues of social justice, equity, and access in education.

- Translate complex Japanese texts related to WWII-era media and musicals into clear, concise English, maintaining historical and cultural accuracy.
- Transcribe and create subtitles for historical media, including wartime films and musicals, ensuring accessibility and contextual understanding for academic research.
- Summarize and analyze primary sources, assisting professors in exploring the cul

Translated Japanese texts related to WWII-era media and musicals into clear English while maintaining historical and cultural accuracy. Transcribed and subtitled historical media and summarized primary sources to support academic research on media, culture, and propaganda roles.

- Assist students with understanding and reviewing Japanese language lessons, providing one-on-one support to reinforce lecture material.
- Guide students in improving their speaking, writing, and listening skills, fostering a deeper comprehension of grammar, vocabulary, and cultural context.
- Offer personalized feedback and resources to help students meet their learning goals and excel in their

Supported students in reviewing Japanese lessons through one-on-one assistance and guided practice. Provided personalized feedback and resources to help improve speaking, writing, listening, and understanding of grammar, vocabulary, and cultural context.

Supported internal communications and store team engagement initiatives, contributing to brand-aligned publications and content development. Assisted with implementation of a new platform to centralize resources and helped create operational guides and training feedback.

As Retail Operations Intern, I supported both communications and operations initiatives that strengthened store team engagement and streamlined resources.

- Communications: Contributed to internal publications including Exceptional Wins, Exceptional People, IFG/CFG Comfort Connection, and the August Mood Quarterly. Collaborated on content development, brand-aligned design, and creative features (

- Contributed to the development and promotion of the new Gender Studies Initiative, helping to shape its inaugural year through event planning, advertising, and documentation.
- Coordinated and assisted in organizing events that raised awareness around gender issues, fostering an inclusive and educational environment for students.
- Managed marketing and outreach efforts to engage students and fa

Supported the development and promotion of the inaugural Gender Studies Initiative through event planning, advertising, and documentation. Coordinated events to raise awareness of gender issues and managed outreach to engage students and faculty.

- Assisted the Distance Language Learning program in updating and modernizing beginner-level Japanese course content for U.S. diplomats and government personnel.
- Created engaging language exercises and researched cultural information to enrich course materials, ensuring relevance and accuracy for learners in a diplomatic context.
- Contributed to the development of online content that enhances l

- Shadowed professionals in the International Economic Development sector, gaining hands-on experience in economic growth strategies, global business expansion, and cross-cultural collaboration.
- Assisted with research and connection to attracting international investment and fostering economic development.

Participating in a rigorous summer/fall program that prepares underrepresented students for advanced study through mentorship, writing support, and access to a national graduate school consortium.

2022 ~ 2026 (deferred to take my gap year)

Completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Cultural Anthropology at Duke University. Dates provided are Aug 2022 through Dec 2025.

NSLI-Y (National Security Language Initiative for Youth) State Department Scholarship program for the Chinese language 2021-2022 academic year taking place at 文藻外語大學 Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages.

Completed dual enrollment in a joint Confucius Institute and Michigan State University online program. Focused on learning Chinese language.

Dual enrollment in the joint Confucious Institute and Michigan State University online class program to learn the Chinese Language.

Public high school in South Lyon, MI in the United States of America.

CAR(Center for Automotive Research) Camp where I learned about CAD, batteries (specifically lithium ion batteries), and autonomous vehicle structures.

Completed dual enrollment in the joint Confucius Institute and Michigan State University online class program. Focused on learning the Chinese language.

Dual enrollment in the online Brigham Young University program to take online Chinese Language classes.