Robert L. Smartt

B.A. degree, Drew University; M.B.A. degree, New York University

Robert Smartt retired from the New Jersey Treasury Department after nearly 30 years of government service, including service as deputy state treasurer, treasury ethics officer and state contract manager for the New Jersey Lottery gaming system. Previously, he worked as administrator of the state Office of Telecommunications and Information Systems and held management positions in planning, policy analysis and public affairs at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Smartt worked for ten years for the New Jersey State Legislature as executive assistant to the speaker and deputy director of the Assembly Majority Office. He was elected by his colleagues from other state legislatures to serve as staff vice president of the National Conference of State Legislatures, the highest-ranking staff officer on the Executive Committee.

Smartt has been involved with public broadcasting for many years and is a member of the NJTV Board of Trustees. Previously, he served on the Foundation for New Jersey Public Broadcasting Board of Trustees as acting chairman and treasurer. While at Treasury, Smartt represented the state treasurer on the New Jersey Public Broadcasting Authority Board of Directors. Smartt is experienced in press relations and political campaigns. He worked as a reporter and editor at the Daily Record in Morristown, as a reporter at the Star-Ledger, and as deputy press secretary for the first Brendan T. Byrne gubernatorial campaign. Smartt received a B.A. from Drew University and an M.B.A. from the Stern School of Business at New York University. In addition to serving as a Visiting Associate, he is a member of the development and management team for Eagleton’s Center on the American Governor.