Biography
Born and Raised
A born and raised Detroiter (MI), Mariah Smith is a poet and writer who uses her voice to illustrate the stories of those who do not have a platform to tell it for themselves.
Photo by Specs Vision
Poetry and Writing
Inspired by her identical twin sister, Mariah began writing short stories and poetry at 13. She saw writing as a way to express herself, and even started writing and recording her own raps.
Today, Mariah uses her poetic talents to turn the things that she sees into content that people from all different backgrounds can collectively empathize with, holistically understand, and critically think about. As a vocal and active advocate for the people of her city, she focuses most of her work on her own life experiences and stories that people from various diverse backgrounds can relate to.
Education
Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor (UM), majoring Anthropology with a minor in Intergroup Relations
Mariah is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Anthropology at Wayne State University, with research interests in Black women's embodied personhood as evident in the performing arts.
Photo by Scott Photography
Community Involvement
Mariah is a proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. She joined the Iota Psi “Covergirl” Chapter as an undergraduate member and is currently a member of the Rho Sigma Alumnae Chapter in Detroit, MI.
Accomplishments
Recipient of the Dean’s Diversity Fellowship (2020-2023)
Opened up for legendary activist and author, Dr. Angela Davis with The Guild Poetry Collective (2020)
Led mental health awareness initiative in the Greek life community at UM, sparking a campus-wide conversation by releasing a mental health video campaign that has also gained the attention and discourse of universities around the country (2017)
Received the Michigan’s Most Talented award at the UM NAACP Image Awards (2017)
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. national talent competition winner (2016)
Published in Cafe Shapiro Anthology Series (2014)