Curiosity Helps Ryan Smith '92 Transition from Lawyer to Decorated ESPN Anchor and Television Reporter

Ryan Smith '92 anchors ESPN’s flagship "SportsCenter" program, and he's a Sports Emmy-winning host of ESPN’s "Outside the Lines" and "E60." Smith also serves as a legal analyst for ESPN and ABC News. But his path to journalism was unorthodox. After earning his political science degree from the Maxwell School, Smith went on to earn his law degree from Columbia Law School. A successful practicing lawyer, Smith didn't feel satisfied, so he pivoted to pursue a career in television. The bet paid off. Today, Smith combines his love of law with his passion for journalism. Smith discusses his unusual career path and the skillsets from being a lawyer that carry over to journalism. He shares why he's forever curious about the stories he tells, how he enjoys making complicated issues easy for the audience to understand, the important role Syracuse University played in his life, and the best piece of advice he ever received.