Courtney Smith
About Courtney Smith
Courtney Smith serves as the Senior Vice President of Program Research, Innovation, and Impact at Share Our Strength, where she has worked since 2022. With a background in strategic planning and program evaluation, she has held various leadership roles within the organization and has extensive experience in childhood hunger initiatives.
Current Role at Share Our Strength
Courtney Smith serves as the Senior Vice President of Program Research, Innovation, and Impact at Share Our Strength. She has held this position since 2022, focusing on advancing the organization's mission through strategic research and innovative program development. In her current role, she leverages her extensive experience in program management and policy analysis to enhance the effectiveness of initiatives aimed at combating childhood hunger.
Previous Experience at Share Our Strength
Courtney Smith has a significant history with Share Our Strength, having worked in various capacities since 2010. She served as the Director of the No Kid Hungry Program for one year, followed by two years as Senior Program Manager for the Childhood Hunger Strategy. From 2017 to 2022, she was the Managing Director of the No Kid Hungry Center for Best Practices. Her roles involved strategic planning, budget management, and staff development, contributing to the organization's overall impact.
Education and Expertise
Courtney Smith holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Women's Studies from Grinnell College, where she studied from 1986 to 1990. She furthered her education at the University of California, Berkeley, obtaining a Master's of Public Policy with a focus on Evaluation and Social Policy from 1995 to 1997. Her academic background supports her expertise in developing and evaluating best practices in organizational performance.
Background in Policy Analysis
Before her tenure at Share Our Strength, Courtney Smith worked as a Senior Policy Analyst at the National Governors Association, Center for Best Practices from 2001 to 2008. In this role, she gained valuable experience in policy development and analysis, which she has applied throughout her career. Her work has emphasized the integration of policies and programs with research and operations, fostering collaborative coalitions to enhance program effectiveness.
Specializations and Skills
Courtney Smith specializes in the development, execution, evaluation, and presentation of best practices and mission strategies. She has a proven track record of leveraging analytical and data-driven resources to improve organizational performance. Her strengths include strategic planning, budget management, and staff development, which are essential for advancing the goals of the organizations she has served.