Marvin Smith is the Chief Public Affairs and Development Officer for AERDF. In his evolved role, Smith oversees revenue strategy to guide the organization through the raising of a 200M+ fund, marketing and communications to strengthen public awareness of the learnings and insights AERDF programs are achieving toward their breakthrough goals, and national coalition building to strengthen federal adoption of Advanced Inclusive Research and Development as an innovation engine to transform PreK-12 student learning and well-being. He joined AERDF in early 2021, serving on the founding team that helped publicly launch the organization.

Marvin has devoted his career to working collaboratively with learners and caregivers, educators, researchers, policymakers and investors to improve the quality of public education for all students, especially students of color and those experiencing poverty. He previously led fundraising, partnerships and communications as Chief External Officer for Teaching Trust, a North Texas based nonprofit that provided practice-based training and coaching for public school leaders and their teams. Prior to that, Marvin managed federal advocacy in DC for KIPP Foundation, helping to amplify the influence of educators and students on policy issues important to them and usher in new national partnerships. Marvin began his career at the Illinois Network of Charter Schools (INCS) leading state level advocacy and district engagement with Chicago Public Schools.

Marvin is a proud member of Education Leaders of Color (EdLoC) where he has contributed his expertise to the Policy Council and Boulder Fund Selection Committee. He has served on the boards and advisory councils of Erie Elementary Charter School, Metropolitan Family Services, and other nonprofit organizations. Marvin earned a MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a BA from Loyola University Chicago. He splits his time between Chicago and New York City and is a proud papi to his young daughter.