is a graphic designer and a web designer at the MSU College of Education. She is also founder and creative director of avani-design.com, a graphic and web design studio specializing in print, web and branding. Previously she worked as a graphic and media specialist at Phoenix Inc. in Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, and as an instructor at Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, where she taught graphic design and technology to undergraduate students. Smita holds a Bachelor’s degree in Advertising from Nagpur University, India; Master’s degree in Visual Communication from Industrial Design Center, IIT, Mumbai; and another Master’s degree in Graphic Design from Iowa State University. She has over 20 years of experience in graphic design. Her work has received numerous awards over the years, and she was recognized as an employee of the month at MSU.

Smita enjoys helping non-profit organizations with their publicity and marketing materials. She is involved with India Cultural Society, Bharatiya Temple of Lansing, Okemos Athletic Boosters and Okemos Orchestra Boosters, in addition to the Okemos Education Foundation. She resides in Okemos with her husband Punya Mishra, MSU professor, and her two children. Smita served as an OEF trustee from 2015-2017. Visit her website at: www.avani-design.com.

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Current OEF Trustees
Former OEF Trustees