As the chief innovation officer for Institutional Compliance Solutions LLC, Betsy Brockman Smith, Esq., is a driving force in supporting institutions and school districts with the implementation and expectations of the Title IX regulations. Equipped with legal expertise and enthusiasm for educational equity and access, Smith organizes strategic initiatives that encourage safe, inclusive, and compliant learning environments.
Established in Law
Smith started her career path by pursuing a legal studies foundation. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and sociology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in 2006, followed by a Juris Doctor from the same institution’s College of Law in 2009. Smith holds memberships with the American Bar Association, the Knoxville Bar Association, the Tennessee Bar Association, the National Association for College and University Attorneys, and the Tennessee School Board Attorneys Association.
After graduation, Smith worked as an assistant district attorney in Blount County, Tennessee. She later became the director of student conduct and community standards and deputy Title IX coordinator at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
In 2019, Smith joined Institutional Compliance Solutions LLC (ICS) as the director of Title IX Services and took on the additional role of chief innovation officer in 2025. She serves as a subject matter expert in Title IX and other discrimination and harassment litigation.
The Importance of Implementing Title IX
ICS provides support to schools, districts, and institutions through training, community engagement, and external services to establish and maintain compliance with Title IX, Title VI, and Title VII equity laws and regulations. The company also helps educational organizations create positive cultures.
“I am really passionate about the work, especially the way Institutional Compliance Solutions does the work, meeting the school and employees where they are with a focus on support,” Smith says.
Title IX is a federal law that states that people cannot be discriminated against based on their sex. This includes ensuring equal opportunities, fair treatment, protection from harassment, protection for pregnant students from discrimination, and equal athletic opportunities for women’s and men’s athletic teams.
Smith leads the ICS team responsible for assisting school districts and higher education institutions in investigating, resolving, and preventing sexual harassment in schools. She values the ICS team’s contributions as they work to support students, parents, administrators, and employees. This includes their efforts in providing ICS Community Partnerships to school districts and higher education institutions. These partnerships allow schools to access on-demand training, templates, flow charts, quarterly meetings, and listservs while also receiving discounts on in-person and virtual training and external services.
Smith’s passion lies in making sure students understand expectations. “Our best connection is through kind, consistent and transparent training,” she says.
According to Smith, one challenge in her field is “the way that the industry manages or maneuvers through political change. Staying informed is super important because changes can happen in the blink of an eye. What we’ve seen is that we have to be more vigilant about the school’s understanding of the immediate expectations.”
Changes to the political landscape can alter laws and regulations, forcing institutions to adapt quickly to remain in compliance.
Dedication to the Work
Smith was a collegiate athlete during her high school and collegiate career. Through sports, she learned the importance of commitment and dedication to her goals. Her drive to compete has transferred to her career, where she is known for her infectious energy. She enjoys sharing her passion for her work with others. She considers the support she provides ICS clients and the dedication she has to her work as her most notable achievements.
Smith’s goal is to amplify the conversation about discrimination in hopes of expanding her work’s impact. She is constantly producing new and engaging training programs that are accessible and affordable for school districts and higher education institutions across the country.
To learn more about becoming an ICS K-12 or Higher Education Community Partner, visit the ICS website.
