Dr. Margaret A. Smith

Dr. Margaret Ann Smith, 57, affectionately known as Marge or Peggy, passed away on Thursday, September 19th, 2024, in New Orleans, Louisiana, after a courageous battle with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. The daughter of Jean Ann Urlik (1935-1995) and George Aloysius Smith (1924-1980), she is survived by her son, Michael Liam Zoeller.

Born November 10, 1966, and raised on Chicago’s south side, Marge pursued her passion for psychology, earning her PsyD in 2002 from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She worked in community mental health for six years before transitioning to academia, where she dedicated a decade to clinical training.

Marge was deeply committed to serving marginalized communities across the Chicagoland area, particularly the Chicago Urban Indian (Native American) community. In 2018, she fulfilled her dream of moving to New Orleans, where she became the Director of Clinical Training, and later Chair, at Xavier University of Louisiana's Chicago School campus.

She enjoyed travel, rock climbing, camping, basket weaving, and Cherokee finger weaving. Author of two books, The Vigil and The Nexus, Marge was deeply engaged in climate activism, particularly in support of the Standing Rock movement and raising awareness about the effects of climate change in the Arctic. She was a member of the American Psychological Association (APA), the Louisiana Psychological Association (LPA), and the Society for Indian Psychologists (SIP).