Gayle Smith | |
|---|---|
 | |
| President and CEO of theONE Campaign | |
| In office March 28, 2017 – January 1, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Michael J. Elliott |
| Succeeded by | John Spears(Acting) |
| 17thAdministrator of the United States Agency for International Development | |
| In office December 2, 2015 – January 20, 2017 | |
| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Al Lenhardt(Acting) |
| Succeeded by | Wade Warren(Acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Gayle Elizabeth Smith (1956-02-23)February 23, 1956 (age 69) |
| Party | Democratic |
| Education | University of Colorado, Boulder (BA) |
Gayle Elizabeth Smith (born February 23, 1956)[1] is the former CEO of theOne Campaign.[2] Smith was formerly Coordinator for Global COVID Response and Health Security at theU.S. Department of State.[3] and was the formerAdministrator of the United States Agency for International Development(USAID).
Smith is fromBexley, Ohio, a suburb ofColumbus, Ohio.[4]
In 1974, Smith graduated fromBexley High School.[1][5] In 1978, she received a B.A. from theUniversity of Colorado Boulder in English.[4]
.jpg)
After college, Smith worked as a journalist for over 20 years, where she was based in Africa and wrote for publications likeBBC News and theFinancial Times.[6]
From 1994 to 1998, Smith served as Senior Advisor to the Administrator and Chief of Staff forU.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).[6]
From 1998 to 2001, she was Special Assistant to President Bill Clinton and Senior Director for African Affairs at theU.S. National Security Council.[6][7]
In 2001, Smith became a Senior Fellow at theCenter for American Progress.[8] As part of this position, she worked on the Sustainable Security Project and co-founded theEnough Project, working as Co-Chair, as well as the Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network. The ENOUGH Project was created to end genocide and crimes against humanity.[6]
From 2005 to 2007, Smith was the Chairman of the Working Group Chair on Global Poverty for theClinton Global Initiative.[6]
In 2009, Smith joined theU.S. National Security Council, where she was Special Assistant to President Obama and Senior Director for Development and Democracy, where her focus was on global development and humanitarian assistance.
On April 30, 2015, President Obama announced his nomination of Smith to be the new administrator for theU.S. Agency for International Development (USAID),[9] to succeedDr. Rajiv Shah, who resigned the post in February 2015.[10] Despite some opposition to her appointment,[11] and a delayed Senate confirmation,[12][13] Smith was confirmed on November 30, 2015.[14][15]
AsAdministrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Smith's focus was on development and international affairs.
Smith has worked as a consultant to various non-governmental agencies like the Cooperation Canada (formerly the Canadian Council for International Cooperation), Dutch Interchurch Aid, Norwegian Church Relief,UNICEF, theWorld Bank, among others.
On March 28, 2017, Smith joined theBono'sONE Campaign, succeedingMichael J. Elliott.
On March 5, 2021, it was announced that Smith would be the coordinator of the global COVID response and health security at theU.S. Department of State,[3] where she focused on COVID financing, capacity, and global efforts to distribute COVID vaccines equitably.[16] As part of this program, Smith worked on the 2021 COVAX Investment Opportunity, an approach to funding theWorld Health Organization'sCOVAX Facility, which provides vaccinations to low- and middle-income countries.[17] She returned to ONE on December 6, 2021.[18]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development 2015–2017 | Succeeded by Wade Warren Acting |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |