Denise Smieja

Denise Smieja is currently the Contracts and Evaluation Director at THE LINK in Minnesota. Denise has been in this role for the past 5 years and 6 months. Prior to this, Denise was the VP of Programs at Ronald McDonald House Charities for Upper Midwest. In this role, they provided program leadership, evaluation and vision for housing facilities for families facing the life threatening illness of a child. Denise has also been the Program Director at Face to Face Health and Counseling for 9 years, where they provided leadership and direction to programs including Homeless Youth, Medical, Mental Health and Health Education program areas. Before that, Denise was a Program Coordinator at YWCA Minneapolis for 7 years, where they coordinated the Contact Plus Program, a comprehensive sexual health program and Girls RAP, a diversion program for first time female offenders.

Denise Smieja holds a Master’s Degree from Metropolitan State University in Public and Nonprofit Management, which they obtained between 2010 and 2013. Denise also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from the University of St. Thomas, which they obtained between 1993 and 1997.