Christy Smith

Christy Smith serves as an Associate Professor and Director of the MPA Program at the University of New Haven, within the Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences. She holds appointments in both the Public Management Department and Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences Department, where she teaches public administration principles and policy formulation and implementation courses in the Masters of Public Administration program.

Dr. Smith earned her B.A. from the University of West Florida in 1997, followed by her M.P.A. in 2003 and Ph.D. in 2014, all from Florida State University. Prior to joining academia, she gained extensive practical experience in Florida state government, working as a policy and budget analyst in the Executive Office of the Governor under Governor Jeb Bush, then in the Florida House of Representatives under Speakers Rubio and Cretul, and later as a budget analyst and unit manager at the Florida Department of Children and Families.

Her research focuses on public management, public financial management, procurement, and sustainability, with particular emphasis on green procurement practices and fraud detection in public contracting. Analysis of her publication record reveals a consistent trajectory examining how government entities can implement sustainable procurement practices while maintaining accountability and preventing fraud. Her work spans both theoretical and practical aspects of public administration, often drawing connections between administrative professionalism, interest group influence, and successful policy implementation.

Dr. Smith has been featured as an expert commentator on urban governance, notably providing insights for WalletHub's analysis of best-run cities in America, where she commented on why some cities perform better than others across various metrics. Her practical government experience combined with academic research gives her a unique perspective on effective public administration.