Adrienne Smith, Ph.D.

Adrienne leads Opportunity Finance Network (OFN)’s research strategy and agenda to build knowledge about and for the community development financial institution industry. Since joining OFN, she has worked to convene, collaborate with, and build the field of researchers at OFN member CDFIs. Prior to OFN, Dr. Smith was a Senior Associate in Abt Associates’ Social and Economic Policy division, where she directed and contributed to large, multi-year research projects and program evaluations for funders in the U.S. government and foundations. These projects spanned diverse policy areas and issues such as community development, housing, workforce training, and other policies and programs aimed at expanding economic opportunity. She also co-led Abt’s Housing, Communities, and Asset-Building market center. Before Abt, Adrienne was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Tennessee. Adrienne holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in Political Science from Emory University.