smˈɪθ ɹᵻsˈiːvd ɐ bˈætʃəlɚɹ ʌv ˈɑːɹts dᵻɡɹˈiː ɪn pəlˈɪɾɪkəl sˈaɪəns ænd pˈʌblɪk pˈɑːlɪsi fɹʌm dˈuːk jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi ænd ɐ mˈæstɚɹ ʌv sˈaɪəns dᵻɡɹˈiː fɹʌmðə kəlˈʌmbiə jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi skˈuːl ʌv dʒˈɜːnəlˌɪzəm.
Smith received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and public policy from Duke University and a Master of Science degree from the Columbia University School of Journalism.