Stacy L. Smith

Stacy L. Smith is an Associate Professor of Communication at the University of Southern California's Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. She is the founder and director of the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative (AII), a global think tank addressing systemic inequality in entertainment media. Her research focuses on gender, race/ethnicity, LGBTQ+ representation, disability, and mental health across film, TV, digital platforms, and the music industry. AII also analyzes economic relationships between inclusion and financial success.

Smith has authored over 100 academic works and 75+ AII studies, including annual analyses of top-grossing films and popular music. Her TED Talk on Hollywood's gender disparity has garnered over 1.1 million views. She has testified before the U.S. Congress, spoken at global events like the United Nations and Sundance Festival, and co-created influential concepts like the 'inclusion rider' and '4% challenge' for women directors.

• Key Initiatives: Proof of Concept Accelerator (2023), Inclusion Rider, 4% Challenge
• Collaborations: Cate Blanchett, Eva Longoria, Time’s Up movement
• Awards: 2025 James Irvine Leadership Award, Hollywood Reporter's 50 Agents of Change (2019)

Her work bridges academia and activism, driving measurable change in Hollywood's representation practices through data-driven solutions.