Alumni Spotlight: Michelle Nusum-Smith Builds Nonprofit Success Through Strategy and Service

Coppin State University alumna Michelle Nusum-Smith has built a career helping nonprofit organizations strengthen their operations, secure resources, and increase their impact.

Nusum-Smith is the owner and principal consultant of The Word Woman LLC, a full-service consultancy that works with nonprofit organizations on strategy, grant development, organizational capacity, governance, facilitation and training.

Since launching the firm in 2010, Nusum-Smith has grown The Word Woman from a solo practice into a team serving organizations across the country. During that time, the firm has worked with more than 100 nonprofits, trained thousands of board members, staff, and volunteers, and helped clients secure more than $500 million in funding.

Nusum-Smith brings more than 35 years of nonprofit and consulting experience to her work and has developed a reputation for helping organizations translate complex ideas into clear strategies and practical solutions.

Her path to leadership includes a Coppin State education. Nusum-Smith earned a Bachelor of Science in Management Science and is a graduate of Coppin’s Honors Program.

“Coppin gave me a strong academic foundation, but it also taught me the value of preparation, perseverance, and using my talents to serve others,” Nusum-Smith said. “The experiences and relationships I developed at Coppin helped prepare me to build a career centered on helping organizations and communities succeed. I am proud to be a Coppin alumna and to carry those lessons with me in the work I do today.”

In addition to leading The Word Woman, Nusum-Smith is a member of the Grants Professionals Association, an associate member of Maryland Nonprofits and a licensed Standards for Excellence® consultant. She also serves as an associate consultant for Maryland Nonprofits, providing consulting, facilitation and training services.

Her community leadership includes service with the Frederick County Commission for Women, the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce Business Equity Coalition, the Maryland Black Chamber of Commerce Western Maryland Advisory Board, and Leadership Frederick County, Class of 2024. Nusum-Smith is a Lifetime Member of the Coppin State University National Alumni Association.

Through her work, Nusum-Smith continues to demonstrate how Coppin alumni are using their education, expertise, and leadership to strengthen organizations and communities throughout Maryland and beyond.