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Stephanie Smith Headshot

Stephanie D. Smith

School of Communication Studies
Assistant Professor
Office Location:
201M Taylor Hall
Contact Information
Email:
ssmit149 [at] kent.edu
Phone:
330-672-8147
Fax:
330-672-3510

Biography

Stephanie Danes Smith is a professor in the School of Media and Journalism and also teaches in the School of Communication Studies and the College of Communication and Information. Her focus areas include social and transnational movements, global communication, public affairs and risk and warning communication. She is also the faculty coordinator for CCI's Media Advocacy Minor. 

Stephanie retired in 2011 from the United State Federal Government after 27 years of service, 25 of them with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). She also had significant executive experience in defense (U.S. Navy) and public diplomacy (Department of State). 

Stephanie was a member of CIA's Senior Intelligence Service in 2000 and achieved its highest rank. She was the first woman to lead the largest of CIA's four directorates, the Directorate of Support, and reported directly to the Director of CIA for hiring, security, global logistics, facility support, finance, acquisitions and medical services worldwide. In this role, Smith was also accountable to Congress, the media and the American public.

During her federal career, Stephanie achieved three other significant firsts. In 2008, she became the first civilian and first CIA senior executive selected to serve as Deputy Director of the United States Navy's Shore Readiness Division. In 2006, she was selected as the first CIA Senior Advisor to Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs at the State Department, where she co-founded the Department's Counterterrorism Communications Center to strengthen and integrate all United States Government counter-terrorism messaging. And in 2004, Stephanie was the first CIA executive chosen to serve as Executive Director for Administration of the U.S. National Security Council under Dr. Condoleezza Rice.

Education

Master of Public Administration, Harvard University, Bachelor of Science, Journalism, Kent State University

Affiliations

Community Advisory Board, Kent State University Trumbull Campus; Advisory Board, Kent State's Center for Teaching and Learning.

Awards/Achievements

  • At CIA: Distinguished Intelligence Medal, Central Intelligence Agency; CIA Director's Award, CIA Certificate of Distinction, 20 CIA Exceptional Performance Awards.
  • At U.S. Navy: U.S. Navy Special Act Award.
  • At Kent State: Faculty Recognition Award (2015 and 2016); the Mothers, Mentors and Muses award (2014); and the William D. Taylor Distinguished Alumni Award from the School of Media and Journalism, Kent State University (2011).

News Stories

Kent State University, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame team up on Rolling Stone magazine course for 50th anniversary, Rolling Stone gets class, exhibit in Northeast Ohio, Kent State, Rock Hall Team Up for Rolling Stone's 50th Anniversary
School of Communication Studies
College of Communication & Information
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201 Taylor Hall | 300 Midway Drive | P.O. Box 5190 | Kent, Ohio 44242-0001

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800 E. Summit St.
Kent, OH 44242
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  • 330-672-3000
  • info@kent.edu

Contact Us
330-672-2659
comm [at] kent.edu
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