Rev. Michael F. Smith, Pastor of Shinnecock Presbyterian Church elected to LICADD's Board of Directors

The Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence is pleased to announce the election of Reverend Michael F. Smith to its Board of Directors. Born on the Shinnecock Reservation in Southampton, Rev. Smith is a graduate of SUNY College at Old Westbury, the American Indian Summer Law Program in New Mexico and Princeton Theological Seminary. Rev. Smith currently serves as Pastor of the Shinnecock Presbyterian Church of Southampton, he has counseled and lectured for Seafield Center, and is a volunteer coach for various basketball, soccer, and baseball teams. Rev. Smith has served as Chairman of the Shinnecock Indian Health Services, and is currently Chairman to the East End Minority Health Disparities Task Force, run by Stony Brook University, and a member of the Southampton Hospital Board of Directors. He has served as member of the Shinnecock Indian Nation Tribal Council and is the founder, chair, and executive director of the Substance Abuse Mobilization Project (SAMP). “I am honored to be a part of the LICADD Board and am astutely aware of the enormous challenges young adults and parents experience during difficult days and troubling times,” said Rev. Smith. “Having watched the growth and expansion of LICADD’s services and worked in conjunction with LICADD to bring programs to the reservation, I look forward to what we can achieve as a team in expanding substance abuse prevention and addiction services.”

LICADD Board Chair Bill Baum noted, “We are fortunate to have Rev. Smith join our Board as he brings with him a wealth of experience and passion for our mission and a unique personal understanding of the needs of those living on the Shinnecock Reservation.”

LICADD Executive Director Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds joined the Board in welcoming Rev. Smith to the LICADD team and said, “This has been a very exciting year for LICADD, as we moved to larger offices, started several new programs and served more people than ever before. As we prioritize the development of additional services in Eastern Suffolk and the expansion of our Riverhead office, Rev. Smith will be a great asset to our board and a great ambassador for our programs.”