Meet Diana – WCF Board Member

Diana Smithson believes strongly in empowering women to be independent and self-sustaining. “Being that way myself is just part of my genetic makeup,” she said. And so when the opportunity came along to be a part of Women & Children First – an organization that meets women at vulnerable and critical time in their lives and works to empower change – she was proud to have the opportunity. “The women who come to the shelter often are at a place in their life where they cannot be independent, they cannot sustain themselves. They have found themselves as victims, often caught up in volatile relationships. And that’s where the shelter can help. Women & Children First is a grassroots community organization, meeting a local need, that is helping people realize that they can take care of themselves. So if I can play a part in helping a woman say to herself, ‘I can do this’, that is something that I want to be a part of.”

Diana joined the WCF Board 5 years ago. She currently serves as the Treasure and Chair Elect. Diana is a long-time friend of both Cindy Murphy and Gloria Redman, two veteran board members. The two of them asked Diana consider joining the board, and she was happy to become a part of the mission at WCF. Diana is also a current board member for the Ronald McDonald House and the American Heart Association of Arkansas. Additionally, she serves on numerous fundraising event committees throughout the year – including the Woman of the Year committee, which she has served on for the past four years and will chair for the 2017 gala.

Diana is a Senior Vice President of Private Banking at IBERIABANK, where she has worked for 7 years. Before moving to IBERIABANK, she worked at Regions for 11 years and the original Worthen Bank in Little Rock for 10 years. When Diana isn’t volunteering on event committees and non-profit boards, she enjoys fishing, gardening, and serving her community. Diana is an active member of the Church at Rock Creek. She has one son, Eric, but always has several other kids around from her church and community.

Thank you, Diana, for your commitment to Women & Children First!