Joseph L. Smith, formerly director of external affairs
at Verizon Communications, has been appointed director of
city relations for The Johns Hopkins Institutions.
Smith will represent The Johns Hopkins University and
Johns Hopkins Medicine in legislative and regulatory
interactions with all levels of city government.
"Joe brings a wealth of valuable experience and talent
to Johns Hopkins," said Linda Robertson, the
university's vice president for government, community and
public affairs. "His appointment signifies the
important relationship Johns Hopkins has with its neighbors
and the city in general."
Before joining Johns Hopkins, Smith spent 30 years in
managerial roles with Verizon and its predecessor
companies. As director of external affairs, his last
position with the company, he was responsible for the
firm's government and community relations throughout
Maryland.
Smith has been an active civic leader and community
volunteer. He served on the Baltimore City School Board for
12 years, chairing it from 1988 to 1991. He has served on a
number of other public and nonprofit boards, including the
Baltimore City Planning Commission and governing or
advisory boards of the Sojourner-Douglass College
Foundation, the B&O Railroad Museum, Associated Black
Charities and the Baltimore Urban League.
He began his career as a community organizer/planner
in the Baltimore City Department of Housing and Urban
Renewal. During the late 1960s, he was a special assistant
to Mayor Thomas D'Alesandro III. Smith is a 1959 graduate
of Morehouse College and also earned a master's degree in
community organization and social work from Atlanta
University in 1961.