Hannah Wright-Smith is the Extension Weed Specialist covering pastures and horticultural crops, based in Knoxville at the University of Tennessee.
My name is Hannah Wright-Smith, and I am the Extension Weed Specialist covering pastures and horticultural crops, based in Knoxville at the University of Tennessee.
I am originally from northeast Georgia and grew up on a small farm where we focused on growing fruits and vegetables for local restaurants and farmers markets. After high school, I attended Mississippi State University, where I earned my undergraduate degree in Agribusiness. Through summer internships during my undergraduate program, I had the opportunity to work in crop protection and developed an interest in weed science.
I went to the University of Arkansas for my master’s degree in weed science. There, I worked with several different row crops, but my thesis project focused on a new herbicide for rice. Then, I attended the University of Georgia for my Ph.D. in weed science and worked with cotton, vegetables, and small grains. In 2022, I started a faculty position at the University of Arkansas as an Extension Weed Specialist for turfgrass, forages, and specialty crops. While at the U of A, I worked with strawberry and blackberry growers on managing weeds in their fields.
In October 2025, I joined the University of Tennessee as an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist. I am passionate about connecting growers with research-based solutions to their weed control problems and excited that I get to continue that work in Tennessee.