Jayson Smith

Fulbright University of Bristol Summer Institute - Arts, Activism and Social Justice

Jayson Smith was born in Ashland, Kentucky, and raised in the countryside outside of Ironton, Ohio. A rising sophomore in the Ohio University Honors Tutorial College, Jayson studies Political Science, with a concentration in education policy. As a lifelong resident of the Appalachian region and a graduate of a small, rural public school in Southern Ohio, Jayson is no stranger to the struggles in both education and everyday life that many in Appalachia face.

At the University of Bristol, Jayson aims to learn more about movement building and the intersection of activism and the arts—specifically, how activism takes shape in different contexts and how music, art, and literature serve as powerful vehicles to drive positive social change.

Jayson looks forward to immersing himself in the UK’s rich cultural heritage, engaging with an entirely new context of activism, and procuring a deeper understanding of transnational approaches to social justice. Jayson hopes to return with insights that will inform his long-term goal: advocating for policy reforms that expand opportunity and equity for rural and underserved communities, particularly in Appalachia.