ABOUT LAURIE

With a wide range of experience in public policy at the state and federal levels, Laurie specializes in advising clients on education and workforce development, as well as issues that affect working women.

Dr. Laurie Todd-Smith has an extensive background in education, workforce development, and research. Prior to joining BSS Global, Dr. Todd-Smith served as the Director of the Women’s Bureau at the United States Department of Labor in Washington, D.C. She was appointed by the President to this role in 2019.

During her tenure at the Women’s Bureau, Dr. Todd-Smith led the development of policies and standards to safeguard the interests of working women. As part of the Women’s Bureau 100-year celebration, Dr. Todd Smith nominated and inducted into the Department of Labor Hall of Honor a group of women known collectively as the “Rosies,” the millions of women who joined war production industries and related efforts to expand the nation’s wartime production capacity during World War II.

In her role leading the Women’s Bureau, Dr. Todd-Smith distributed over $15 million in grants to communities across the United States to encourage Women in Apprenticeship roles and facilitated grant funds to assist women with reemployment impacted by opioid addiction and recovery.

With 30 years of experience in advocating for early childhood education, Dr. Todd-Smith focused the Women’s Bureau on the issue of childcare and helped communicate the need for funding and high-quality care for working families and was instrumental in creating a childcare cost map that provides county level data as to the cost of childcare in the United States. She hosted multiple bi-partisan panels featuring members of Congress to discuss childcare and paid leave policies. She also assisted in writing the legislation and funding for the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act resulting in $3.5 billion in funds for states to help keep childcare businesses open.

Prior to her work with the United States Department of Labor, Dr. Todd-Smith served as Education and Workforce Policy Advisor to Governor Phil Bryant. She led legislative efforts to help improve public education in Mississippi including The Literacy Based Promotion Act, Early Childhood Education, Charter Schools, Special Needs Education Scholarship Account, and accountability systems for districts and schools, which resulted in improved outcomes for students. Dr. Todd-Smith is also the former executive director of the Mississippi State Workforce Investment Board and the State Childhood Advisory Council.

A former elementary school teacher, Dr. Todd-Smith holds a doctorate in education leadership from Mississippi State University, a master’s degree from Western New Mexico University, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona.