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Ja’Ron Smith is a policy expert experienced in advocacy, legislating, and policy strategy and negotiation. He specializes in advising clients on a range of issues including regulatory affairs, economic mobility, social justice, finance, banking, and housing and urban development. 

Ja’Ron recently served as the Executive Director of the Center for Advancing Opportunity at Thurgood Marshall College Fund, which aims to move people living in fragile communities from promise to prosperity by developing research-based solutions to pressing issues such as education, entrepreneurship, criminal justice, and overall economic conditions. 

Prior to CAO, Smith was working with the Trump Administration as the highest and longest ranking African American advisor, serving in a number of roles. Most recently, he served as Deputy Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy and Deputy Director of the White House Office of American Innovation, where he played a key role in developing the previous domestic policies and has been a driving force in passing legislation aimed at helping the African American community. 

Ja’Ron’s portfolio during his time at the White House included a wide range of issues, including criminal justice reform, immigration, re-entry, economic revitalization of distressed communities, opportunity zones, infrastructure, trade, economic growth and job creation, and HBCU initiatives. He previously served as a Special Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs and was the President’s liaison to the United States House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee, Agriculture Committee, Education and Workforce Committee, Homeland Security Committee, Congressional Black Caucus, and Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Prior to serving as the Special Assistant to the President in the Office of Legislative Affairs, he served as the President’s Director of Urban Affairs and Revitalization, where he was a chief policy strategist and manager of HBCU initiatives, crime and reentry, and the White House Faith and Opportunity Initiative. Before the President began his term in office, Smith also served both Houses of Congress, and played a key role in seeking additional funding for Howard University to mitigate the energy crisis faced by the University in 2018.

Ja’Ron Smith has been a longtime advocate for economic development, crime prevention, entrepreneurship, and workforce development, and was awarded the 2020 Bipartisan Justice Award. he is a graduate of Howard University School of Business and Howard University School of Divinity and is an ordained minister in the Universal Life Church. He also serves as a Senior Fellow with Right on Crime and Founder of Public Safety Solutions for America.