Denia Brielle Smith is an activist, organizer, and emerging policy leader specializing in criminal justice policy with a focus on racial and gender equity. She is an incoming Master in Public Policy candidate at Harvard Kennedy School, where she is a Gleitsman Leadership Fellow. Smith graduated summa cum laude from American University with a B.A. in Political Science (Gender, Race, and Politics), a minor in African American Studies, and a Certificate in Advanced Leadership Studies. She is the founder of She Shall Speak,  a nonprofit organization committed to cultivating and strengthening the leadership capacity of women of color in public service, activism, and advocacy.

Her public service journey began in 2020 when she led youth-driven mobilizations for racial justice across New Jersey. Since then, she has served in leadership and advisory roles with the United Nations Foundation's Girl Up Campaign, PERIOD, and Harvard Graduate School of Education's Making Caring Common Initiative, spearheading programs, campaigns, and convenings centered on youth civic engagement and gender equity. Smith has also worked at the intersection of community organizing and government through positions in the Office of the Vice President at the White House and the Office of Congresswoman Bonnie Watson-Coleman (NJ-12). These experiences deepened her commitment to connecting grassroots movements with public institutions to advance effective and equitable policy solutions. Through her work with the African American Policy Forum and Vital Voices Global Partnership, Smith helped design and facilitate initiatives that uplifted marginalized voices, empowered underrepresented leaders, and advanced progressive policy change.

As an Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholar through the Obama Foundation and a John R. Lewis Scholar at The Faith & Politics Institute, Smith engages with leaders across sectors to explore innovative approaches to social change and public leadership. Following her MPP, Smith plans to pursue a career in state and local government, with the long-term goal of serving the people of New Jersey in elected office.