Board Member
Dr. Anne Smiley is a globally recognized leader in education in emergencies, foundational learning, and evidence-driven innovation for children affected by crisis and displacement. With more than two decades of experience working at the intersection of research, policy, and practice, she has dedicated her career to ensuring that all children—regardless of circumstance—have access to quality, safety, and transformative learning opportunities.
Dr. Smiley currently serves as the Global Practice Lead for Foundational Learning within the International Rescue Committee’s (IRC) Education Technical Unit, and as Senior Technical Advisor to the groundbreaking PlayMatters initiative. In this role, she shapes global strategy, drives learning outcomes in fragile contexts, and supports teams across regions in strengthening early and primary education systems for refugee and host-community children.
Previously, as Deputy Project Director for Technical and Research for the LEGO Foundation–funded PlayMatters project in Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Uganda, Dr. Smiley led a diverse regional team advancing play-based, active learning in some of the world’s most challenging educational environments. Her leadership helped transform teacher training systems and introduce joyful, evidence-backed learning approaches in refugee-serving schools.
Before joining IRC, Dr. Smiley served as Associate Director of Research and Evaluation at FHI 360, where she led a global team supporting a wide portfolio of education and development programs. Her work has guided donors, governments, and practitioners in creating more equitable, data-informed education systems.
A respected voice within the Inter-Agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE), Dr. Smiley has held multiple leadership roles, including serving as lead for the Standards and Practice Working Group, the Data and Evidence Collaborative, the Monitoring and Evaluation workstream, and the Conflict-Sensitive Education subgroup. She also co-led the Education Equity Research Initiative, advancing global understanding of equity in education.
Throughout her career, Dr. Smiley has been Principal Investigator for major mixed-methods studies that continue to shape global policy and practice in EiE and education equity. Her work spans partnerships with USAID, FCDO/DFID, UNICEF, UNHCR, NSF, the LEGO Foundation, and Dubai Cares—reflecting a lifelong commitment to building systems that center dignity, resilience, and opportunity.
Inspired by the belief that every child deserves the chance to learn, thrive, and imagine new possibilities, Dr. Smiley brings to the Board a powerful blend of strategic insight, collaborative leadership, and unwavering dedication to educational justice.
She holds an EdD from Teachers College, Columbia University.