Aisha’s journey from the vibrant neighborhoods of Harvey and Markham to her current role as a lawyer and member of the DMSF Board of Directors showcases the transformative power of education and community support. Her commitment to lifelong learning and her passion for giving back are rooted in the values instilled by her family and mentors throughout her life. Today, Aisha exemplifies the principles of leadership she embraced as a Murphy Scholar, making significant strides in her professional endeavors while uplifting and empowering those around her.
We sat down with Aisha to learn about her journey, and here’s what she had to say.
Q: Let’s start with your background. Can you tell us about where you grew up and your family?
Aisha Smith: I grew up in the Harvey and Markham area, and I often lump them together because we lived in both places during my childhood. At one point, Harvey was recognized as one of the murder capitals in the U.S., which contrasted sharply with how my family experienced it. My parents worked hard to keep my sister and me in private Catholic schools, which meant a lot of sacrifices. They didn’t go to college but prioritized education for us from a young age, teaching us how to learn and instilling a love for knowledge. Despite our challenges, my family’s commitment to education laid the foundation for my future.
Q: That’s such an inspiring background! Do you have any siblings? How would they describe you?
Aisha Smith: I have one younger sister, who is also a Murphy alum and went to Concord Academy. She graduated and then attended Scripps College. My family would probably describe me as having a big heart but also being a perfectionist. I’m my toughest critic, which has driven me to work hard and succeed. They’d also say that I love to laugh and make it a priority to give back to my community, recognizing the talent around me that just needs opportunities.
Q: It’s great to hear how your family values education. Speaking of which, how did you first find out about DMSF?
Aisha Smith: I had a fantastic teacher named Mr. Strezo in eighth grade who introduced me to DMSF. He would choose one or two students each year to share the application, and I was fortunate enough to be selected. My family didn’t know much about boarding school, but Frank believed I could succeed, which meant the world to me.
Q: How did DMSF impact your life?
Aisha Smith: I know the DMSF scholarship completely changed the trajectory of my life. It’s clear when I go back home and see people who haven’t had the opportunity to leave. The state of schools hasn’t improved much, and you meet brilliant people whose only difference is that they didn’t have the same opportunities.
DMSF reinforced my belief in myself and supported my potential in a way I truly needed and will always appreciate. The organization has a deep commitment to ensuring kids grow up in safe school environments and understands how crucial that is.
I wouldn’t be doing what I am today without the scholarship and the incredible resources and community that come with being a Daniel Murphy scholar. You get a built-in network of people who cheer you on during transformative experiences. Without those resources, it can be a lonely road, and sometimes it makes the difference between finishing or not. Daniel Murphy scholars are brave, creative, and resilient, and they make things look easy because they’re supported by such an amazing organization.
Q: What does leadership mean to you and what is a way that you’ve practiced leadership in your life that you attribute a lot of your growth to?
Aisha Smith: In terms of my leadership style, I focus on listening to all perspectives rather than positioning myself as the one in charge. For example, at a family dinner, even though I was treating, I sat in the middle of the table instead of the head. I do this at work too because I prefer to understand everyone’s needs and mold a consensus that works for all.
I believe people are looking for partnership and collaboration, not to be coerced. Servant leadership, where you bring people along with you, is more effective than a top-down approach. This is a value I learned from Daniel Murphy and my school experiences. These environments prioritized pulling people toward their best selves, and that’s the type of leader I strive to be. It’s how I carry the lessons of Daniel Murphy and Concord Academy into the world.
Q: What motivated you to pursue the boarding school path?
Aisha Smith: Initially, my family was hesitant, thinking I’d stay closer to home. But when I visited Concord Academy during the admitted student weekend, we all fell in love with the environment. The rule was that if I got homesick or it didn’t work out, I could always come home. But I wanted to embrace the opportunity, so I gave it a shot.
Q: What was your experience like at Concord Academy, and were there any challenges?
Aisha Smith: My experience was incredible! At first, I was so excited about everything. Concord had a mission centered around a love of learning and that is embedded in everything they do, which resonated with me. It wasn’t until the pressures of college applications hit in my junior year that I started feeling anxious.
Q: What activities were you involved in while at Concord Academy?
Aisha Smith: I made great friends and even stepped out of my comfort zone by trying out for cross-country—something I never would have done anywhere else. I served as freshman class president and remained involved in student government throughout my time at Concord. Being part of Black and multicultural student affinity groups was really important to me, especially since students of color made up only about 3% of the population. Supportive mentors like my advisor, Mr. Nesbit, helped me feel like I belonged.
I also played basketball—well, more like supported the team—but by senior year, I ran for and was elected student head of school, essentially the student body president for the entire campus. That was a huge deal for me, as I believe I was one of the first, if not the first, Black person to hold that role. I wanted to help bridge the gap between what we were saying we could do and what the school was truly capable of. That experience was really meaningful to me.
I was also involved in a lot of school dances—apologies to my teachers who had to endure that <laughs>. And I took French, which I loved, thanks to my amazing French teacher.
Q: What did you learn about yourself after trying all the news things at Concord?
Aisha Smith: What surprised me about being in student leadership was that I never saw myself as someone who challenges the status quo or sets an example. I was simply following my passions. It was others’ reactions that made me realize I might be doing something different. It’s probably better that I didn’t overthink it because that would have overwhelmed me.
Running for class president against popular peers and recognizing the cultural dynamics at play was a challenge. It took a lot of asking for help, practice, and convincing myself that not only did I deserve to be there, but that I needed to be there to represent those who looked like me and to serve the student body.
That’s when I learned that I could be a “healthy troublemaker”—someone who can disrupt in a positive way. This has remained true in many of the work environments I’ve been in since.
Q: Did you know that you wanted to go into law? If not, what helped inform that decision for you?
Aisha Smith: I was always drawn to something related to policy or governance because I understood the impact it has on people’s everyday lives. Once I notice something isn’t working as it should, I can’t let it go until I try to fix it. I’m pretty sure I knew I wanted to go to law school, especially after being mentored by Judge Epstein. Whether we were paired while I was a scholar or after, that mentorship solidified my path toward law or policy after graduation.
Q: Tell me about your college experience.
Aisha Smith: I went to Northwestern for undergrad as an Evans Scholar. After two years in the program, I made the difficult decision to transition into traditional financial aid. While this meant some adjustments, it was ultimately the right choice for me at the time. I’m still very proud of the connection between Daniel Murphy and the Evans Scholarship, and I respect my peers who have thrived in the program.
At Northwestern, I studied education and social policy, and during my last two summers, I worked for Chicago Public Schools in their intergovernmental affairs office. This fueled my passion for education policy, especially around school funding. Later, when I went to law school, I discovered an interest in financial services and student lending. I worked in student finance before it became such a controversial issue, gaining valuable experience in financial services regulation and understanding what’s needed to create a better student lending system. Those interests in education policy and financial law converged and shaped my career path.
Q: We are thrilled to see you as a Murphy Alumna join DMSF’s Board of Directors. What motivated you to join this Board and what is something you hope to bring to the organization in this role?
Aisha Smith: This is my first official board appointment in the nonprofit space. As a first-gen college student and lawyer, it took some time before I felt ready to serve in this way. But DMSF was the first organization that truly invested in me, so it made perfect sense to give back here.
I get so much joy from seeing and hearing about the newer classes of Scholars—they’re incredibly impressive. It’s amazing to see how the caliber of Scholars has risen over time and how the organization has grown. I can’t think of a better place to invest my time, especially since DMSF has already given so much to me.
I also love that many DMSF alumni are now part of the staff—it’s a voice that adds so much value to the scholars’ experiences, something we didn’t have when the organization was younger. For me, board service isn’t just about expanding my network—it’s about supporting an organization that’s deeply aligned with my passions and the change I want to see in the community.
Q: Why should people support DMSF?
Aisha Smith: What’s on my mind are the recent challenges to admitting students from backgrounds like ours into elite schools, colleges, and law schools. It’s frustrating because the demographics never really came close to threatening the majority, yet there’s a risk that these environments will become less accessible to students from our backgrounds.
That’s why Daniel Murphy has never been more important—it ensures that the progress we’ve made continues. The world shouldn’t miss out on brilliant kids just because they weren’t born into the right circumstances. There are so many ways you can spend your time and resources, but few have the direct impact on individual lives and communities like DMSF does.
Daniel Murphy scholars go on to accomplish amazing things, and the support they receive from donors is unparalleled. While there are big nonprofits out there, none have the direct, intimate impact that DMSF has on its scholars. If you don’t already know about Daniel Murphy, you should—because the way they manage the organization and support scholars is truly exceptional.
As we wrap up our conversation with Aisha Smith, it’s clear that her journey from the neighborhoods of Harvey and Markham to becoming a successful business owner and DMSF board member is a testament to the power of resilience, education, and community support. Aisha’s story highlights how the values of leadership and commitment to giving back, nurtured through the Murphy Scholar program, continue to guide her as she empowers others in their pursuits.
Aisha Smith’s journey is not just about personal success; it’s about creating a legacy of empowerment and possibility for future generations. Thank you, Aisha, for sharing your inspiring story with us!
