About ACT

Given his 32 years of experience in top leadership positions in state government, ACT was fortunate indeed to hire Charles Smith in 2008 as vice president and head of ACT's Washington DC office.

Prior to joining ACT, Smith served seven years as Tennessee commissioner of education, six years as chancellor of the Tennessee Board of Regents, six years as chancellor of the University of Tennessee at Martin, and five years as chancellor of the University of Tennessee at Nashville.

Smith also served two three-year terms as executive director of the National Assessment Governing Board in DC before accepting the ACT position.

In his current role, Smith develops and implements actions that establish ACT's college readiness and workforce development systems as research-driven solutions to the current agendas facing Congress, the federal administration, and the various interest groups in the Washington beltway community.

Smith grew up in Sparta, Tennessee, a small town located between Nashville and Knoxville. He graduated from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville with a BS in journalism. Smith also earned an MA in English and a PhD in higher education administration, both from the Peabody College of Vanderbilt University.

Smith has been married to his wife, Shawna Lee, for 48 years. They have a daughter and a son and five grandchildren.