Lila Smith

Lila Smith is FCNL’s 2026-2027 Program Assistant for Sustainable Energy & Environmental Programs. In this role she joins FCNL’s team in lobbying congress to support climate solutions. 

Originally from Moorestown, New Jersey. Lila grew up attending the Westfield Friends Meeting and Moorestown Friends Meeting. She earned her bachelors from Skidmore College, where she studied political science and history. Her senior honors capstone examines the role of James C. Thomson Jr., a China specialist in the Johnson White House, and how his firsthand experience in China shaped his dissent towards American Cold War policy. Her research explores the importance of regional expertise and cross-cultural understanding in foreign policy making, particularly during the Vietnam War. Additionally, she represented Skidmore at the Student Conference on U.S. Affairs at West Point, where she debated issues relating to European security. She has also taken her passion for advocacy and foreign policy abroad with immersive studies of the United Nations and the European Union. 

Before joining FCNL, Lila supported congressional and gubernatorial campaigns in New Jersey and Iowa through fundraising, donor research, and outreach. She has also been involved with student leadership at Skidmore College as a Peer Mentor and a Student Ambassador, where she focused on welcoming prospective students and creating a welcoming community for first year students. 

In her free time, you can find Lila at a local market, exploring different cuisines, reading, and doing needlepoint.