​Brenda Smith Lyerly is mayor of Banner Elk and a member to the Banner Elk Town Council, a post she has held since 1987.
Lyerly is retired as senior associate director of admissions from Appalachian State University, where she served for 21 years. Prior to that, she was dean of admissions for seven years at Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk and enrollment services specialist for two years at Mayland Community College in Spruce Pine.
Lyerliy is a member of the High Country Council of Governments Board of Directors, former chairwoman of the Rural Transportation Advisory Board and also vice chairwoman of the North Carolina Resort Towns and Convention Centers. She also is involved the Banner Elk Heritage Foundation, is president of the Banner Elk Kiwanis Club and a board member of Habitat for Humanity.
Lyerly received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Houston and a Master of Arts from Appalachian State University.