Leadership, Loyalty, and Lifelong Connection: Amy Smedley (‘01)
Written by Kayla Muh
Amy Smedley (‘01) was only a seventh grader when she set her mind on going to law school. The historic appointment of Sandra Day O’Connor as the first female justice on the U.S. Supreme Court confirmed her aspiration to study law, showing her what was possible for women in the legal industry. Today, Amy is proof that you can do anything you put your mind to. As a wife, mother, general counsel, BYU Law Class of 2001 President, and now, President-elect of the BYU Law Alumni Chapter, Amy’s determination has carried her throughout her life.
Amy describes herself as “True Blue,” a loyal Cougar fan for life. Originally from Idaho, she visited campus frequently thanks to her parents’ love affair with Provo and BYU football, where she grew to love BYU. Amy received her undergraduate degree in political science at BYU; while attending, she married her husband, Nathan, who she met while on their missions in Sweden. After taking a few years off after graduation to work, Amy applied to BYU Law and was accepted, something she feels was a blessing from the Lord.
Speaking about her experience at BYU Law, Amy says she “loved every minute of it.” She still remembers the friends she made, the classmates she had, and the wonderful professors. Amy recalls the close-knit nature of her class. “People supported each other. We wanted each other to succeed and wanted the best for each other, and I appreciated that.”
Among Amy’s favorite memories from law school are those of bringing her oldest daughter, Sarah, to class every day after her birth the summer after her 1L year. She shared how welcoming her classmates and professors were, some even when Sarah was wandering around the classroom as a toddler Amy’s 3L year. Amy also remembers connecting with several other mothers and said that seeing other women who were also dual-focused on their careers and families was inspiring. “It was a real blessing to be around them,” she said.
In Amy’s experience, BYU Law was a great place for students with growing families. She appreciated how the Law School faculty and staff made it a priority to care for her and other families. Professors encouraged her to bring her daughter to class, and other students would help to watch her. “You don’t see that at other law schools,” she remarked. “It can feel overwhelming, [but] you can absolutely do it – have kids and go to law school. And you can have kids and then go be a full-time attorney after you graduate.”
Amy is currently the Executive Vice President and General Counsel at Savage Companies, an international family-owned company that is constantly growing. She also is the executive sponsor of Elevating Women at Savage, something that is very important to her. She and other Savage leaders work with women to support them in achieving their goals. She’s also on the boards of United Way of Salt Lake and Law Related Education.
As she’s grown in her own career, Amy has felt the duty to give back to BYU Law. “My law school education changed our family’s life. It changed the trajectory of our family. We are able to do so many more things and have had so many more experiences because of that education and the opportunities that it’s afforded. I really believe that “because I have been given much, I too must give.”
Amy invites all BYU Law Alumni to stay connected with the school and give back in any way they can. “I feel like we have a compelling opportunity to be loyal to our school, to support our school, to help BYU Law to grow,” she says. A huge believer in being connected, Amy encourages all alumni, wherever they are now in their geography and their careers, to engage with the new BYU Law Alumni Directory, an online community that allows alumni to connect with fellow alumni around the world, to share opportunities, and to learn about ways to support BYU Law.
As a woman of many accomplishments, Amy understands the importance of building lasting relationships. “It’s just so valuable to have those connections,” she said. “Being connected to others allows us to support each other in ways that will become apparent throughout our careers.” As President-elect of the Alumni Chapter, Amy hopes to strengthen the BYU Law bond amongst its more than 7,200 living alumni and with the Law School itself. She hopes that students and alumni will come together, providing support and encouragement for one another.
Looking back at her personal and professional life, she acknowledged that everything she has achieved has been accomplished through the connections she made at BYU Law and beyond. “You cannot do it yourself,” she advised. Amy hopes current law students and alumni will push themselves to do things they never dreamed possible, and she believes these accomplishments will be achieved as they support each other and continue to build connections with one another.
Amy will serve one year as President-elect, with Jonathan Madsen (‘04) continuing his tenure as President through 2025. Beginning in January of 2026, Amy will take the reigns as President for two years, through January 2028.