Basil A. Smikle Jr. is an American political strategist, policy advisor, and educator based in New York City. He has combined a career in government, consulting, and academia. Notably, he served as Executive Director of the New York State Democratic Party (2015–2018) and was a senior aide on Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s staff in the U.S. Senate. He also leads academic programs: Smikle is a Professor of Practice at Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies and Director of its M.S. in Nonprofit Management program, and (as of 2021) Director of the Public Policy program at Hunter College’s Roosevelt House.
Early Life & Education
Basil Smikle Jr. was born and raised in the Bronx, New York, to Jamaican immigrant parents. He attended Cornell University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Labor Relations. He then studied at Columbia University, where he earned a Master of Public Administration and a Ph.D. in Politics and Education. These degrees underpinned his focus on education policy and public administration.
Career
Early Political Work: In the late 1990s, Smikle entered New York politics. He served as Special Assistant for Budget and Policy to Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer (1996–2000), working on urban development and education projects (for example, helping create the Eagle Academy charter schools).
U.S. Senate Staff: From 2001 to 2003, Smikle was Deputy State Director for U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. In that role he advised on statewide policy and political outreach, building on his local government experience.
Consulting Firm: In 2003 Smikle founded Basil Smikle Associates LLC, a consulting firm for public and nonprofit clients. Through this firm he has provided campaign strategy, communications and education policy advice. For example, he advised Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s 2009 re-election campaign and organized community outreach for institutions like Columbia University.
New York Democratic Party: In 2015 Governor Andrew Cuomo and former Governor David Paterson appointed Smikle as Executive Director of the New York State Democratic Party. In that capacity he was the party’s “second highest ranking Democrat” in the state. He managed statewide fundraising and election strategy, recruited candidates, coordinated with the Democratic National Committee, and helped flip legislative seats to Democratic control by 2018. During this tenure he earned recognition such as inclusion on the City & State Albany Power 100 list and awards from the New York Urban League for community service.
Recent Campaigns: Smikle remained active in politics beyond the Party leadership. In 2021 he served as campaign manager for New York City mayoral candidate Ray McGuire, applying his experience in electoral organizing.
Academic and Public Policy Roles: Alongside politics, Smikle has built an academic career. He was appointed the first Distinguished Lecturer in Politics and Public Policy at CUNY’s School of Labor and Urban Studies (formerly the Murphy Institute). He has taught public policy and education courses at Columbia University’s Teachers College and SIPA, often collaborating with New York officials (for example co-teaching a course on policing with the state Attorney General).
Current Positions: Smikle now directs Hunter College’s Roosevelt House Public Policy Program. He also holds the title Professor of Practice at Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies, where he leads the M.S. in Nonprofit Management program. In these roles he mentors students, helps design curricula, and leverages his policy background to train future leaders.
Media Appearances
Basil Smikle is a frequent political commentator in the media. University profiles note he is “a familiar face” on cable news outlets such as MSNBC and CNN. He has written opinion pieces and given interviews for NBC News, The Hill, and other outlets on topics like elections, education reform, and governance. Through these media appearances, Smikle shares analysis on current political trends (for example, electoral polling or voter access issues) and on urban education policy.
Social Media Presence
Smikle maintains a professional online presence. He has official profiles on LinkedIn and Twitter under his name (often marked “PhD”) where he occasionally posts about policy issues and public events. These accounts are typically used for sharing his published articles or speaking engagements. (His public university profiles link to these social media channels for updates.)
Public Profile & Search Interest
Basil Smikle is well-known in policy circles but not a household celebrity. People searching his name are usually interested in his work in New York politics or public policy education. He has no large-scale personal controversies or celebrity lifestyle coverage. Instead, information about him comes from reputable sources like university websites and news articles. Personal details beyond his career—such as exact age or family life—are not widely publicized. (For example, official bios mention only that he grew up in the Bronx by Jamaican immigrant parents, without giving his birth date.) In other words, searches for Basil Smikle will largely turn up his professional achievements and media commentary rather than private details.
FAQ
Who is Basil Smikle?
Dr. Basil Smikle Jr. is an American political strategist and educator from New York City. He has worked extensively in New York state politics and currently teaches at Columbia University and Hunter College.
What positions has Basil Smikle held?
He served as Executive Director of the New York State Democratic Party (2015–2018). Earlier, he was Deputy State Director for Senator Hillary Clinton (2001–2003) and Special Assistant for Budget and Policy in the Bronx borough president’s office (1996–2000). He has also run his own consulting firm (Basil Smikle Associates) and advised political campaigns.
What is Basil Smikle’s education?
He earned a B.S. in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University and then a Master of Public Administration (MPA) and Ph.D. in Politics & Education from Columbia University.
Where does Basil Smikle work now?
Smikle is a Professor of Practice at Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies and directs its Master’s program in Nonprofit Management. He is also the Director of the Public Policy program at Roosevelt House (Hunter College).
Does Basil Smikle appear on TV?
Yes. He often appears as an analyst on cable news networks. He has been featured on programs like MSNBC’s Deadline White House and CNN, discussing elections and policy.
How old is Basil Smikle?
His exact birth date isn’t listed in public sources. Based on his educational timeline, he was likely born in the early 1970s, but official biographies do not state his age explicitly.
What personal details are known?
Public profiles note that Smikle is a lifelong New Yorker raised in the Bronx by Jamaican immigrant parents. His father was a textile worker and his mother a public school teacher. Beyond this, personal details like marital status or family are not publicly documented.
Conclusion
Dr. Basil Smikle Jr. has built a notable career at the intersection of politics and education policy. As a behind-the-scenes strategist and academic, he continues to influence public affairs through teaching and media commentary. Those interested in his work can follow Columbia and Hunter College news releases or look for his expert analyses on television and in published opinion pieces. Readers may also connect via his professional social profiles for updates on his latest activities and speeches.