About Us
Cobbs Hill Consulting (CHC) was founded by Jeff Smink in 2013 with the goal of providing high-quality, strategic consulting to local, state, and national organizations seeking to improve outcomes for children, particularly in high-poverty communities.
CHC adds value by leveraging Jeff's experience and extensive network of policymakers, foundations, and other key stakeholders across the nation on behalf of his clients. Please visit our Services page for more information on past work and what we can do for your organization.
Jeff Smink, President
Jeff is a nationally-recognized expert on issues related to education, policy, and children, with nearly 20 years of high-profile experience on a wide range of issues at the federal, state, and local levels.
Prior to starting CHC, Jeff was a leader on the emerging issues of expanded learning time and summer learning, working for both the National Summer Learning Association (NSLA) and National Center on Time and Learning (NCTL). As Vice President of Policy and a co-founder of NSLA, Jeff developed and led the Association’s policy portfolio at the national, state, and local levels. While there, Jeff created the New Vision for Summer School initiative, a framework for innovative summer programming embraced by urban districts and states across the nation, including New York City, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Rhode Island, and California. He also led the National Campaign for Summer Learning, which helped result in over $50 million in new public investment in summer learning programs between 2009 and 2012. As the New York State Director at NCTL, Jeff worked with key stakeholders at the state and district level to build, implement, and sustain support for expanded learning time throughout New York State and Rochester.
Jeff has been cited extensively in the media, including the New York Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Christian Science-Monitor, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, Fortune, Education Week, and National Public Radio.
In addition to his work on expanded learning, Jeff worked in several education policy positions, serving as a political appointee of Governor Edward Rendell at the Pennsylvania Department of Education and as Legislative Associate for the Council of Chief State School Officers in Washington, DC. In both capacities, he was deeply involved in the development and implementation of major national and state education reform efforts, including the No Child Left Behind Act.
Jeff was born and raised in the Rochester area and moved back in 2011 after living and working in Washington, DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Boston. He lives in the Cobbs Hill area of Rochester with his wife and two children and is passionate about improving his community, both as a consultant and volunteer. Jeff has been a member of the Democrat and Chronicle Board of Contributors and Time to Educate Advisory Board; Mayor Warren's Early Learning Council; the Greater Rochester Summer Learning Association; and is Vice President of Schools and Scholarship for the Harvard-Radcliffe Club of Rochester and a founding Board member of the Rochester Excellence Academy charter school.
Jeff earned a Master of Education in Administration, Social Policy, and Planning from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Arts and teaching certification from Allegheny College.
For more information on Jeff's background, please see his resume.
CHC adds value by leveraging Jeff's experience and extensive network of policymakers, foundations, and other key stakeholders across the nation on behalf of his clients. Please visit our Services page for more information on past work and what we can do for your organization.
Jeff Smink, President
Jeff is a nationally-recognized expert on issues related to education, policy, and children, with nearly 20 years of high-profile experience on a wide range of issues at the federal, state, and local levels.
Prior to starting CHC, Jeff was a leader on the emerging issues of expanded learning time and summer learning, working for both the National Summer Learning Association (NSLA) and National Center on Time and Learning (NCTL). As Vice President of Policy and a co-founder of NSLA, Jeff developed and led the Association’s policy portfolio at the national, state, and local levels. While there, Jeff created the New Vision for Summer School initiative, a framework for innovative summer programming embraced by urban districts and states across the nation, including New York City, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Rhode Island, and California. He also led the National Campaign for Summer Learning, which helped result in over $50 million in new public investment in summer learning programs between 2009 and 2012. As the New York State Director at NCTL, Jeff worked with key stakeholders at the state and district level to build, implement, and sustain support for expanded learning time throughout New York State and Rochester.
Jeff has been cited extensively in the media, including the New York Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Christian Science-Monitor, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, Fortune, Education Week, and National Public Radio.
In addition to his work on expanded learning, Jeff worked in several education policy positions, serving as a political appointee of Governor Edward Rendell at the Pennsylvania Department of Education and as Legislative Associate for the Council of Chief State School Officers in Washington, DC. In both capacities, he was deeply involved in the development and implementation of major national and state education reform efforts, including the No Child Left Behind Act.
Jeff was born and raised in the Rochester area and moved back in 2011 after living and working in Washington, DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Boston. He lives in the Cobbs Hill area of Rochester with his wife and two children and is passionate about improving his community, both as a consultant and volunteer. Jeff has been a member of the Democrat and Chronicle Board of Contributors and Time to Educate Advisory Board; Mayor Warren's Early Learning Council; the Greater Rochester Summer Learning Association; and is Vice President of Schools and Scholarship for the Harvard-Radcliffe Club of Rochester and a founding Board member of the Rochester Excellence Academy charter school.
Jeff earned a Master of Education in Administration, Social Policy, and Planning from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Arts and teaching certification from Allegheny College.
For more information on Jeff's background, please see his resume.
