A whirlwind of inspirational energy by day and a tango dancer in the eve, Kimberly Smith is always on the move, helping students find their path and preparing them for graduation.

“The biggest question I get is, ‘What can I do with my major?'” says Smith, program adviser for LSA Program in the Environment. “Students go on to work in all different sectors — private and public. They become writers, journalists, consultants, educators, business owners, filmmakers, researchers and lawyers. They go to grad school, or into law, urban or regional planning, the Fortune 500.”

Program in the Environment is an undergraduate environment major that focuses on the natural and built environment. The interdisciplinary major and its five minors focus on local and global problems, considering possible solutions, policy issues and the ways people engage with the environment.

“The students are great,” Smith says. “They want to save the world around them in some way.”

PitE students investigate how people engage with the environment, and how the environment influences people and cultures in different societies. Because of the many options PitE alumni have, it’s often difficult for students to decide what to do.

That’s where Smith comes in. Once a PitE student herself at the University of Michigan, Smith knows the drill. She knows the sense of wanting to do something meaningful, but not knowing exactly how.

“When I was at U-M, I thought maybe urban development or environmental policy would be my world, but I was fascinated by climate change,” Smith says of her own undergraduate passions. “I was interested in how humans are changing ecosystems and how consumerism is driving globalization.”

Through a combination of personal experience with the PitE program and a desire to help people, Smith makes 14 hours a week strictly for students.

“I always start with the student,” Smith says. “It’s really just a conversation. What do you like to do? What are your interests? What do you like about your classes?”

When she isn’t trying to investigate and support a student’s passion, Smith manages scholarships and awards for PitE, prepares and submits major releases for students’ senior audits, and administers PitE’s Internship for Credit program. Smith, along with support from the LSA Shared Services units, submits content for the PitE newsletter, website, and helps with initial planning for PitE visiting speaker events, study, and advising events.

She can also be found dancing alongside students at bimonthly “milongas,” or social dances in celebration of the art of Argentine Tango and friends coming together.

“The tango club has been a great way to meet people on campus and stay active — and to still be a dancer.”

Once a ballerina and jazz/tap dancer, Smith integrates tango into her vibrant lifestyle through the Michigan Argentine Tango Club. While MATC is a student club, faculty and staff are welcome to take classes and become members.

“We believe tango should be shared with people,” Smith says. “We want tango to be accessible to those who are interested.”

The student club meets and offers classes in Mason Hall on Wednesday evenings in preparation for the large social milonga dances.

“The biggest thing is that when we dance socially, it’s all improvised. A few steps we know, but we string them together while dancing,” Smith says. “Individual steps are the building blocks — you decide on the fly.”

Whether it’s through her one-on-one advising sessions in the PitE office or expressive milonga dances at the Michigan League and Union, Smith utilizes her talents to guide, motivate and inspire students at U-M.