Allyson Smith

Raised in upstate New York on the shores of Lake Ontario, Allyson spent her childhood hoping to escape the Canadian winds. After receiving her BFA in Industrial Design at the Rochester Institute of Technology, she headed south to Washington, D.C. With the credential of Outstanding Scholar of RIT, she was offered a design position for the Carter Presidential Library and Museum. That opportunity led the way to a 30-year career in museum design. Allyson has worked on more than 100 projects which include world fair pavilions, international blockbuster shows, art and history exhibitions, national park installations and travelling educational kits. Hoping to escape the rainforest humidity of our nation’s capital, Allyson headed to Colorado to accept the position as Director of Design and Production for the Colorado Historical Society. Now Director of the CU Heritage Center, Allyson is using all of her skills to re-envision the museum. Allyson lives in Boulder with her daughter and grandson. She misses sailing in those Canadian winds.