Smurlo was assigned to the Grosvenor Grant Program of the National Geographic Society Education Foundation, which supports efforts to engage K-12 students and teachers in the exploration of geographic skills and perspectives leading to an appreciation of the world, its people, and its resources. The program is designed to inspire students and teachers to be lifelong learners and agents of positive change, with the world as their classroom. Smurlo is the assistant to the program coordinator—serving as a proposal reviewer and making recommendations on funding.

Smurlo came to ISU to pursue a degree in Elementary Education. After taking Principles of Geology her first year, she decided to switch her major to Geography. At the conclusion of her internship, Smurlo plans to seek full time employment and eventually go to graduate school to obtain an MS degree in Earth Science Education.