{{Short description|American crisis manager, lawyer, author, and TV producer (born 1958)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}} {{for|persons of a similar name|Judith Smith (disambiguation)}} {{Infobox person | honorific_prefix = | name = Judy Smith | image = Judy Smith (2014).jpg | caption = Smith speaking at Roanoke College in 2014 | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1958|10|27}} | birth_place = Washington, D.C., U.S. | education = Boston University (BS)<br>American University (JD) | occupation = Crisis manager, PR manager,<br />TV producer, author | spouse = Bill Boulware | website = {{URL|www.judysmith.com}} | footnotes = }}
'''Judy A. Smith''' (born October 27, 1958) is an American crisis manager, lawyer, author, and television producer. She is known as the founder, president, and CEO of the crisis management firm Smith & Company. Her work in crisis management is the inspiration for the ABC television series ''Scandal''.<ref name=post>{{cite news|author=Neely Tucker |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/dc-insider-judy-smith-is-basis-for-abc-drama-scandal/2012/03/29/gIQAbT8JlS_story.html |title=D.C. insider Judy Smith is basis for ABC drama "Scandal" |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=March 30, 2012 |access-date=2012-12-15}}</ref><ref name=lat>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2012-apr-24-la-et-judy-smith-20120424-story.html |title=Judy Smith, real-life 'fixer' behind 'Scandal,' steps into spotlight – Los Angeles Times |publisher=Articles.latimes.com |date=April 24, 2012 |access-date=2012-12-15}}</ref>
== Early life and education == Smith was born on October 27, 1958, in Washington, D.C. She attended St. Francis de Sales Elementary School and the Academy of Notre Dame.<ref name=post /> Following high school, she attended Boston University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in public relations. She later enrolled at American University and graduated with a J.D. degree from the American University Washington College of Law. She was the first African-American woman to serve as executive editor of the American University ''Law review''.<ref name=abc>{{cite web |url=http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/scandal/judy-bio |title=Judy Smith - ''Scandal'' - ABC.com |website=Beta.abc.go.com |access-date=2012-12-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130122065232/http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/scandal/judy-bio |archive-date=2013-01-22 }}</ref> In May 2013, Smith delivered the commencement address to the Boston University College of Communication Class of 2013, alongside the commencement student speaker, Cody Brotter.<ref>{{Cite tweet |user=COMatBU |author-link=Boston University College of Communication |number=335332192999841793 |date=May 17, 2013 |title=So pumped to hear from our #COMmencement speakers today! @TweetCody and @JudySmith_ will be amazing. #nopressure }}</ref> On July 10, 2016, Smith became an honorary member of Alpha Kappa Alpha.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}} She is married to Bill Boulware.<ref name=post />
== Career ==
===Public service=== Smith began working in public service in 1983, when she was employed as assistant editor for the Nurses Association of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in Washington, D.C. After her graduation from American University in 1987, she became Deputy Director of Public Information and Associate Counsel in the Office of the Independent Counsel. In 1989, she was appointed Special Counsel to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, serving as principal adviser to the U.S. Attorney on media relations and chief spokeswoman.<ref name=gpo>{{Cite web| title=Appointment of Judy A. Smith as Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Press Secretary | date=1991-03-07 | url=http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PPP-1991-book1/pdf/PPP-1991-book1-doc-pg224-2.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100601155516/http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PPP-1991-book1/pdf/PPP-1991-book1-doc-pg224-2.pdf | archive-date=2010-06-01}}</ref>
Starting March 7, 1991, Smith served as Special Assistant and Deputy Press Secretary to President George H. W. Bush.<ref name=gpo /> While there, she earned a reputation for being straightforward, honest and hard working.<ref name=post /> She was reportedly instrumental in guiding the Bush administration through the controversies surrounding the nomination of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court.<ref name=lat />
===Crisis management=== After leaving the White House staff, Smith started Smith & Company, a consulting firm specializing in crisis management and media relations. Her firm has advised clients that include Monica Lewinsky, actor Wesley Snipes,<ref>{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Judy|title=About Judy|url=http://www.judysmith.com/aboutJudySmith.php|access-date=February 22, 2013|archive-date=June 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190627221747/http://www.judysmith.com/aboutJudySmith.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> NFL quarterback Michael Vick<ref name=post /><ref name=lat /> and Sony Pictures Entertainment after their 2014 cyber attack.<ref>{{Cite news| url =https://hollywoodreporter.com/news/sony-hires-scandal-crisis-specialist-759680|title= Sony Hires 'Scandal' Crisis Specialist|author=Rebecca Ford|work=The Hollywood Reporter |date =December 19, 2014}}</ref>
===Television=== After her work for President Bush, Smith worked for NBC as vice president of communications, where she was responsible for news, sports and entertainment shows.<ref name=lat /> In 2009, Smith was introduced to Shonda Rhimes, creator of the TV series ''Grey's Anatomy'', and her partner Betsy Beers, a co-executive producer. That meeting was scheduled for less than half an hour but went on for more than three, resulting in the development of the political thriller television series ''Scandal'', which is inspired by Smith's professional background in public relations and crisis management work in Washington D.C.<ref name=post /><ref name=lat /> {{As of|2012}}, Smith serves as co-executive producer and technical advisor for the show.<ref name=abc />
===Author=== Smith writes blogs for the ''Huffington Post'' and ABC television. Her blog, titled ''Ask Judy'', is a feature of the Huffington Post, where she is listed among the Black Voices.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://huffingtonpost.com/black-voices/the-blog/ |title=Black Voices |publisher=Huffingtonpost.com |date=December 11, 2012 |access-date=2012-12-15 |archive-date=September 11, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911103735/https://huffingtonpost.com/black-voices/the-blog/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> In tandem with her role at ABC, she writes a blog titled ''What Would Judy Do?'' for each episode of the television series ''Scandal''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Smith |first=Judy A. |url=http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/scandal/blogs/what-would-judy-do |title=Blogs - Scandal - ABC.com |publisher=Beta.abc.go.com |access-date=2012-12-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121205004357/http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/scandal/blogs/what-would-judy-do |archive-date=2012-12-05 }}</ref>
Smith's first book, ''Good Self, Bad Self,'' was released on April 3, 2012, to generally good reviews. ''Kirkus Reviews'' summarized a review by stating, "Smith provides a good overview of how to identify and curtail egregious behavior, with just enough celebrity misbehavior to hold the reader's attention."<ref>{{cite web|last=Arthur |first=Addison C. |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/judy-smith/good-self-bad-self/ |title=GOOD SELF, BAD SELF by Judy Smith | Kirkus Book Reviews |publisher=Kirkusreviews.com |access-date=2012-12-15}}</ref> ''Publishers Weekly'' was less enthusiastic, concluding that her "approach feels unwieldy and better suited to accompany her services as a crisis manager than as a do-it-yourself program".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-4516-4999-4 |title=Nonfiction Review: Good Self, Bad Self: Transforming Your Worst Qualities into Your Biggest Assets by Judy Smith|publisher=Publishersweekly.com |date=February 20, 2012 |access-date=2012-12-15}}</ref>
== Published works == * Smith, Judy (2012). ''Good Self, Bad Self: Transforming Your Worst Qualities into Your Biggest Assets'', Free Press, 288 pages. {{ISBN|978-1451649994}} * Smith, Judy (2013). ''Good Self, Bad Self: How to Bounce Back from a Personal Crisis'', Free Press, 272 pages. {{ISBN|978-1451650006}}
== References == {{reflist|2}}
== External links == * {{Official website|http://www.judysmith.com}} * [http://www.smithandcompany.com/ Smith & Company] * {{C-SPAN|20597}}
{{Scandal (TV series)}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Judy}} Category:American political consultants Category:Women political consultants Category:Living people Category:American television producers Category:American women television producers Category:American University Washington College of Law alumni Category:1958 births Category:Boston University College of Communication alumni Category:Writers from Washington, D.C. Category:NBC executives Category:George H. W. Bush administration personnel Category:American women television executives Category:21st-century American women writers Category:Scandal (TV series) Category:American women chief executives Category:Sony Pictures Entertainment people