Dr. Basil Smikle Jr. is a Professor of Practice and Director of the M.S. in Nonprofit Management program at Columbia University's School of Professional Studies — a role he stepped into in July 2024, fulfilling what he describes as a natural "through line" in a career built entirely on advocacy. A product of the Bronx, where he witnessed firsthand the intersection of race, poverty, and political power, Smikle has spent more than three decades turning those early lessons into lasting public impact. At Columbia, Basil prepares current and future nonprofit leaders to strengthen the sector by measuring impact, maximizing resources, and addressing unmet needs locally and globally.  Through the program, he emphasizes innovation, equity, and leadership to drive meaningful organizational and systemic change. 

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As an MSNOW (formerly MSNBC) Political Analyst, Dr. Smikle is a trusted voice on electoral politics, governance, and public policy, appearing regularly on national and local media outlets. His commentary — sharp, grounded in lived experience, and informed by decades of practice — has made him a go-to analyst on presidential campaigns, congressional races, and the shifting dynamics of urban and state-level politics. 

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Dr. Smikle's academic career spans more than 20 years and multiple prestigious institutions. He has served as Distinguished Lecturer and Director of the Public Policy Program at the Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute at Hunter College–City University of New York, as Distinguished Lecturer of Politics and Public Policy at CUNY's School of Labor and Urban Studies, and as a longtime lecturer at Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs and Teachers College. 

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In 2015, he was appointed by former Governor David Paterson to serve as Executive Director of the New York State Democratic Party, a position he held through December 2018. As the "second highest ranking Democrat" in New York State, he oversaw electoral and fundraising strategy, managed multi-million-dollar operations, recruited candidates for office, and partnered with the Democratic National Committee to design grassroots mobilization programs during the 2016 presidential cycle. 

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Earlier in his career, Dr. Smikle served as a senior aide to Hillary Rodham Clinton on her Senate staff, advising on statewide policy and politics. Senator Clinton praised him as a "key advisor and tremendous public servant who makes sure all voices are heard" — a tribute that speaks to the trust he earned at the highest levels of New York politics. 

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His contributions to civic life have been recognized with numerous honors, including the Frederick Douglass Blvd Association’s Community Service and Leadership Award, New York Urban League Community Service Award, the Bronx Branch NAACP W.E.B. Du Bois Scholar Award, the 2025 Ally in Pursuit of Justice Award from the Bronx Defenders, citations from the New York State Governor and Comptroller, and a Proclamation from the New York City Council for his commitment to public service and education equity. 

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Dr. Smikle holds a Ph.D. in Politics and Education and an MPA from Columbia University, and a Bachelor of Science from Cornell University. 

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He serves as a Trustee of The Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and sits on the boards of the Center for Charter Excellence, The Opportunity Charter School in Harlem, Oliver Scholars, Pa’lante Harlem, and The Association to Benefit Children — continuing his lifelong mission to train, uplift, and amplify the next generation of advocates and leaders.