Kenneth M. Smith

Mr. Kenneth M. Smith serves as President and CEO of Jobs for America’s Graduates, Inc. (JAG), the nation’s largest, most consistently applied model of dropout prevention and employment for at-risk and disadvantaged young people.

In 1979, Mr. Smith worked with Governor Pete du Pont of Delaware on the design of the first statewide test of the JAG Model and has served as President and CEO since the inception of Jobs for America’s Graduates. JAG currently serves 72,000 at-risk young people annually, in over 1,300 high schools in 35 states. JAG has served 1,200,000 young people since its inception, achieving 90%+ graduation rates and more than doubling the employment rate for the youth it serves.

Mr. Smith is also Chairman and Chief Executive of Strategic Partnerships LLC. Strategic Partnerships is a leading domestic and international solutions practice that helps companies and organizations grow by building new partnerships and new positions with government and private sector organizations.

Prior to founding JAG, Mr. Smith served as staff aide to President Nixon (1969-70); as Director of Special Projects for the Distributive Education Clubs of America; and founder and President of 70,0001 Ltd., a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping high school dropouts obtain employment. Thereafter, he served in a new post as Senior Advisor to the Governor of Delaware on all activities related to education at the secondary and postsecondary levels. During this period, he chaired the Commission of the Future of Education in Delaware and was nominated to serve as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Delaware Technical and Community Colleges.

Mr. Smith serves as a Trustee of the America is Promise Alliance, founded in 1997 with General Colin Powell as Chairman and chaired today by Alma Powell. The Alliance is a cross-sector partnership of more than 300 corporations, nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and advocacy groups that are passionate about improving lives and changing outcomes for children.

Mr. Smith holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from the School of International Service at American University.