2021 - present Deputy Project Director, Technical & Research, PlayMatters, International Rescue Committee, Kampala, Uganda

Dr. Smiley leads a team of regional technical and research specialists focused on the integration of active, play-based learning methods into teacher professional development systems and schools in refugee contexts.

2018 - 2021 Associate Director, Reseach and Evaluation, FHI 360, Washington, DC

Dr. Smiley leads a team of monitoring, evaluation and research specialists that support a broad portfolio of development programs around the world. Dr. Smiley is a technical lead for education in emergencies (EiE) and leads monitoring, evaluation, research, and data activities for FHI 360’s EiE programs. Within the Inter-Agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE), Dr. Smiley currently leads the Data and Evidence Collaborative and the Monitoring and Evaluation workstream. She co-leads the Education Equity Research Initiative, a global forum for generating evidence around equity in education programs and policies. Within the USAID Middle East Education Research, Training and Support (MEERS) program, she leads activities around EiE data, and is also Principal Investigator on multiple large mixed-methods research studies that are building evidence around EiE and education equity.

2011 – 2018 Technical Advisor, MERL Team Lead, FHI 360, Washington, DC

Management of a team of monitoring and evaluation specialists, overseeing M&E and research support for development programs funded by USAID, UNICEF and Hess Oil Company in countries including Afghanistan, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Rwanda, Malawi, Guatemala, and Democratic Republic of the Congo. Programs broadly focus on teacher professional development, early grade reading, secondary education, youth development, and professional communities of practice for educators. Designs and leads the development and implementation of monitoring and evaluation strategies and research projects. Designs and implements utilization-focused monitoring and evaluation plans, with specialization in Fidelity of Implementation monitoring, feedback loops for formative evaluation, participatory approaches to data collection and use, and mixed methods approaches.

Provides leadership in education in conflict-affected and fragile environments, including designing and implementing conflict-sensitive education strategies.

Supports business development for the Global Education department, including preparation of major education-focused funding proposals for a range of donors including USAID, DFID and UNHCR. Technical areas include performance and impact evaluations of education projects, education in conflict/crisis-affected environments, and early grade reading.

2013 – 2014 Adjunct Professor, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, Washington, DC

Taught “Education and Development” for master’s degree students in the International Development concentration.

2010 – 2011 Program Officer, Academy for Educational Development, Washington, DC

Provided research and programmatic support for the Global Learning Portal, a USAID-funded project promoting the effective use of information and communication technologies for educational change, including major projects in Afghanistan and Rwanda. Authored three USAID publications. Supported business development for the Global Learning Group, including development of the technical aspects of preparing major education-focused funding proposals for a range of donors.

2009 – 2011 Fulbright Scholar, Sefikeng Village, Lesotho

Conducted ethnographic dissertation fieldwork for nine months, living in a rural village and researching the educational participation and schooling experiences of orphaned and vulnerable secondary school students. Presented fieldwork to the National University of Lesotho’s Institute of Education.

2003 – 2004 Director of Adult Education, St. Andrew’s Refugee Ministry, Cairo, Egypt

Managed entire program of English and computer instruction for adult African asylum seekers, including over 600 students and 30 teachers and staff.

2004 – 2004 Interim Site Coordinator, St. Andrew’s Refugee Ministry, Cairo, Egypt

Conducted an evaluation of an on-going interdisciplinary maternal and child health leadership training program for the Maternal and Child Health Leadership Training Consortium. Conducted analysis of primary and secondary data on contraceptive discontinuation, pregnancy intentions and unmet need for contraception.