Tufts alumna Robin Smalley (J'77), a Hollywood producer and non-profit activist, offered her inspirational story and career advice to Tufts students yesterday afternoon.
Her talk, which was entitled, "From Television to a Global Vision: A Life's Adventure," was held over lunch in the Rabb Room of Lincoln-Filene.
Smalley described her leap from a producer of the '90s TV show "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" to an international director for mothers2mothers, a grassroots non-profit organization in Africa. She emphasized the importance of passion and flexibility in professional choices.
According to Smalley, her interest in both communications and public service developed during her time as a Tufts undergrad.
"I really chose television because I felt it was the most powerful medium that was available to influence and to educate," she said in a phone interview with the Daily.
At that time, however, Smalley remembers most of her peers heading for careers in law, medicine or business. "I felt like a dilettante," she said.
After a few years doing public relations in Boston, Smalley moved to Los Angeles, where, through contacts built at Tufts, she found a job.
Relying on her self-described qualities of flexibility, passion for communication and "a short attention span," Smalley went on to work in daytime television. She later won an Emmy Award and became a member of the Writer's Guild of America and the Director's Guild of America.
As time passed, however, Smalley became frustrated with her career. Television was becoming "less substantive," she said. "I felt like I was polluting the air."
Smalley was inspired by an article in People Magazine to volunteer for the Hollywood-based Streetlights Production Assistant Program. While there, she trained disadvantaged youth to work in production jobs in the entertainment industry.
Her work with Streetlights was the impetus for her decision to leave television altogether and begin doing media consulting and public relations for non-profit groups. Smalley said that this choice involved a huge pay cut and a subsequent change in lifestyle.
Smalley's current work with mothers2mothers is the latest chapter of her career. She said that she was fascinated by the work of the tiny, Africa-based organization that aims to create a network for new mothers to act as mentors for HIV-positive women who are about to become mothers.
"I fell head over heels," she said. "I called my husband and said 'We have to do this, we have to move to Cape Town.'" Smalley moved to South Africa in 2004, acting for one year as executive director of mothers2mothers during a time of rapid expansion and development. "It was the most exciting year of my life," she said.
Now back in Los Angeles, Smalley's work with mothers2mothers continues. She said that her return to the United States has been important for the organization's success.
"Somebody has to be here to create partnerships," she said. Current partners include the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the Clinton Foundation. The organization has also gotten public support from First Lady Laura Bush and the White House.
Now approaching her 30-year reunion at Tufts, Smalley looks back on her experiences with satisfaction. "It just gets better," she said.
Having entered the media industry with an intention to make a positive social impact, Smalley has noticed that public service can be done by people in all professions. "You don't have to have a career in public service to do public good," she said.
The talk, which was sponsored by the Communications and Media Studies Program and the Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service, was well received by several faculty members.
Kirk Lange, the assistant director of the of the International Relations Program at Tufts, said that the speech highlighted the importance applying skills in a variety of ways.
"It's clear that skills and insights are transferable, which is important to remember in an age when many people have more than one career," he said.
According to Melissa Russell, an alumni programs officer for the Tisch College, Smalley's story was good for students to hear. "It's important for alumni to share different life paths with students," she said.
