Dorothy Annika Smith ’15

March 1, 1996 – July 8, 2024

Photos and Memory Wall Shared by Annika’s Family

Dorothy Annika Smith, 28, died on July 8, 2024, in Berkeley, California. Annika was born on March 1, 1996, in Little Rock, Arkansas. She is survived by her mother, MegAnn Mara-Smith of Hailey, Idaho; her father, Steven “Bo” Smith of Berkeley; her brother, Hanson Smith of San Marcos, California; her partner, Ian Dyckes of Berkeley; and her demonic cat Nimbus.

Annika was raised near Russellville, Arkansas and attended St. John’s Catholic School and Russellville Middle School. She graduated from the Williston Northampton School in Massachusetts in 2015. Annika attended Quest University in Squamish, BC, Canada and transferred to Clemson University where she received her B.S. in Animal and Veterinary Sciences. She earned her Master’s of Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 

Annika started as an Assistant Biosafety Officer at the University of California, Berkeley in the summer of 2022. She brought enthusiasm to her work and was excited to be growing in a career she found fulfilling. Annika was diagnosed with sinonasal cancer in October 2023.

Annika was known for being inquisitive and adventurous. She loved backpacking in remote, beautiful places. Hard work, both physical and intellectual, was something that Annika valued. She worked as a veterinary assistant during college and spent a summer employed on a musk ox farm in Palmer, Alaska. She was a committed scientist and a voracious reader. During her battle with cancer, she meticulously researched her treatment options and fought the disease with grace and bravery.

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