President and CEO, Team Pennsylvania Foundation (Heinz MSPPM '08)
Bio
Abby Smith is President & CEO at Team Pennsylvania Foundation, an organization dedicated to accelerating the commonwealth’s economic growth through public-private partnership. Formerly the Vice President of Policy & Programs and Senior Advisor to the Foundation, Abby’s 20-year career includes high-level strategic planning and leading cross-sector collaboratives at the state level in Pennsylvania as well as in several other states. Abby has ample experience as a grant and project manager overseeing multi-million dollar grants, serving on various state-level councils, and leading multiple public-private partnership efforts. Before serving as Vice President, Abby was the Director of Education & Workforce Development at the Foundation. Prior to joining Team Pennsylvania in 2013, Abby worked as a policy specialist at the PA Department of Education; for Teach For America as a recruitment director; and as a 7th grade social studies teacher and Teach For America corps member. Abby attended Yale University and has master’s degrees in teaching from The Johns Hopkins University and in public policy and management from Carnegie Mellon University. She serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg and JCC and is a board member of the Jewish Community Foundation of Central PA. As Chair of the Federation, Abby spearheaded the acquisition of a new Jewish community campus - the Alexander Grass Campus for Jewish Life - set to open in 2023. Abby lives in Harrisburg, PA with her husband, twin 12-year-old sons, and Comet the dog.
