Chief Communications Officer - Dionna Smith

Dionna Smith is the Chief Communications Officer providing strategic engagement across a variety of platforms to foster effective, transparent communication that educates and enlightens the community, while amplifying county's initiatives, and engaging residents through meaningful, two-way interactions. Smith takes a conglomerate approach to communication that utilizes a cross functional emphasis on technology and mass communication to disseminate and build awareness.  

Dionna joins DeKalb County as a seasoned public affairs and communications strategist and executive with a distinguished career spanning tech, media, policy, crisis management, and community engagement. She has a proven track record of elevating organizational narratives and guiding leaders in crafting impactful messaging strategies.  

Previously, Dionna served as Chief Diversity & Public Affairs Officer for a leading EdTech company, where she oversaw internal and external communications, federal and state policy advisement, and media strategies for products impacting over 22 million K-12 students across the country. Her work earned her the prestigious Leader of the Year award from the American Consortium for Equity in Education.  

A sought-after spokesperson and speaker, Dionna has presented at SXSW, SHRM, the National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women (NOBEL) Conference, and many others. She has served as a trusted policy advisor on federal and state EdTech policy and has been featured on national platforms such as CSPAN, NPR, Fast Company, CNN Money, Forbes, and EdTech Magazine. Throughout her career, she has worked with some of the world's most recognized brands, including Thumbtack, Cisco, Fiserv, LexisNexis, and Delta Air Lines.  

Recognized as a thought leader and media contributor, Dionna's accolades include Atlanta Business Chronicle's 40 Under 40 Award, the National Diversity Council's Diversity Champion Award, the Top 100 Chief Diversity Officers in Tech Award, and Leader of the Year in 2023 by the American Consortium for Equity in Education.  

Dionna attended Howard University and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Media Arts from Tulane University. In addition to her professional accomplishments, Dionna is active in the community, serving on the advisory board of PowerToFly and as a member of the Board of Directors for the Pathway Community Foundation.