Acting Deputy Director for Policy and Communications

Termika Smith, Ed.D, MPA
Acting Deputy Director for Policy and Communications
Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria

Termika Smith is the acting Deputy Director for Policy and Communications in the Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria.

In her permanent role, Dr. Termika Smith is the Associate Director for Policy, Communications, and Strategy for the CDC Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH). In that role, she led the division’s efforts in legislative and congressional relations, strategic communications, and partner engagement.  Prior to joining DASH in April 2022, she spent nearly seven years as the Associate Chief for Policy in the Division of Global HIV & TB. Where she oversaw accountability inquiries, budget formulation, congressional relations, issues management, logo licensing and co-branding, and partner engagement. Dr. Smith joined CDC following her dual fellowship at the Brookings Institution and American Public Health Association with the United States Senate Committee on the Budget, as well as the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

She has been a lifelong lover and servant of public health, with emphasis in addressing health disparities. She worked as a Senior Director of Clinical Administration at the Mobile County Health Department providing leadership, oversight, and guidance for the operation of three primary care clinics and the Ryan White program. Dr. Smith earned a Doctorate in Education, Leadership, Policy, and Law from Alabama State University in Montgomery, Alabama, and a Master of Public Administration and Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science from the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama. She also received her certificate of paralegal studies from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.