Jessica Smith

(she/her/hers)
Director and Co-Founder, CITEE
Center for Inclusive Transition, Education and Employment
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

262-472-1706
smithjl@uww.edu

Jessica Smith, MSW, CAPSW is the Director and Co-Founder of the Center for Inclusive Transition, Education and Employment at UW-Whitewater.

Jess has dedicated her career as a macro practice-focused social worker to advancing the equity and inclusion for people with disabilities and mental illnesses. She has over 15 years of experience in the field and has spent the past 9 years building CITEE at UW-Whitewater with CITEE Founder Dr. Elizabeth Watson. Jess provides leadership over CITEE across numerous statewide grant projects, including several long-term projects through Wisconsin’s Departments of Health Services, Public Instruction, and Workforce Development.

Since its inception in 2016, CITEE has become UW-Whitewater’s largest total external award recipient annually, and in August 2022, received the largest University grant award in history, with a $9.1 Million ARPA award for behavioral healthcare workforce improvements. Under Jess’ leadership and vision, CITEE has grown to a statewide team of 14 professionals, along with numerous graduate and undergraduate students, and MSW interns at any given time. CITEE has also cultivated partnerships with faculty affiliates across the University and with statewide leaders.

Jess holds a Masters of Social Work from the University of Wisconsin - Madison and is a licensed advanced practice social worker. She also completed the MCH Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and other Disabilities (MCH LEND) with an autism enhancement, at the Waisman Center, University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities during graduate school.

When she's not working, Jess enjoys spending time with her husband, daughter, and son finding pleasure in the simple things.