Nathan Smith is a seasoned public affairs professional with nearly 20 years of experience in government, advocacy, and public policy. At Civitas, Nathan works with clients to secure wins across a wide array of issues, but maintains a specialized focus on democracy reform and LGBTQ equality. Nathan has worked with clients on campaigns to expand voting access, streamline delivery of government services, and modernize elections. He has also led teams on critical projects to support LGBTQ youth and elders.

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Prior to joining Civitas, Nathan was the Director of Public Policy at GLSEN, a national organization that works to create safe and affirming schools for LGBTQ youth. In this role, Nathan advocated for the passage of federal anti-bullying and nondiscrimination legislation, managed a coalition of 120+ national organizations, and developed strategy to build bipartisan support. His leadership and multi-tiered approach to advocacy helped a small policy team with a limited budget achieve enormous wins: solidifying GLSEN as a leader on policy issues in K-12 education.

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Nathan began his career on Capitol Hill as a fellow for Congressman Heath Shuler (D-NC) and then as a legislative staff member for Congresswoman Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA), where he advised the Congresswoman on a diverse portfolio of issues.

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Nathan earned a BS in Political Science from Appalachian State University and a MA in Government from Johns Hopkins University. He lives in Washington, DC.