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Morgan Smith

Senior Policy Consultant

Morgan D. Smith is an experienced public sector leader and policy consultant.  She has held leadership roles within local government and served as an advisor to nonprofit agencies.  Her current focus is on helping smaller governments collaborate with nonprofit partners to advance long-term community goals and equity outcomes.

At MDC, Ms. Smith is working to develop a policy portfolio that will reflect MDC’s work across a broad range of critical topics.  This effort will expand MDC’s capacity to shape change and create impact in communities across the South.

Other recent consulting work has included projects to help communities in the Southeast understand and implement American Rescue Plan funding.  Her work was used to inform public sector and nonprofit efforts in the region, and was recognized by local and national partners.

In connection with her service as a city manager, Ms. Smith is recognized as a Credentialed Manager (CM) by the International City/County Management Association (ICMA).  This designation is held by 1,400 public sector executives, of whom fewer than 250 are women.

Prior to her roles in local government, Ms. Smith worked on issues related to economic policy, including ten years supporting USAID projects on tax reform and revenue estimation in Russia.  Other areas of focus included small businesses development programs, state regulatory reform initiatives and digital divide issues.

Ms. Smith received her Master’s degree in Public Policy from Duke University and her Bachelor’s degree (economics, political science) from Northwestern University.