Zakiya Smith

Zakiya Smith is senior advisor for education at the White House Domestic Policy Council. Prior to her current appointment, Ms. Smith worked at the U.S. Department of Education in the Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development, where she developed programmatic, policy, and budget solutions to respond to pressing challenges in college access, affordability, and completion. There she also worked to align the department's initiatives and activities with the president's higher education agenda. Prior to her work in this administration, she held the position of director of government relations at the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance, where she conducted research on college access programs, community colleges, and on the ability of low- and moderate-income families to afford college.

She has also worked on staff in various capacities for Teach For America, helping to train new teachers, and for the federal GEAR UP program in East Boston, Massachusetts, providing college preparation and financial aid information to high school students. Ms. Smith was introduced to federal policy as an intern on Capitol Hill with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, working for her former hometown congresswoman.

She holds a bachelor's degree in political science and secondary education from Vanderbilt University, and a master's degree in education policy and management from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She remains certified to teach secondary social studies.