‘Professional Fixer,’ Inspiration for Scandal TV Drama, Joins Kean’s Distinguished Lecture Series on February 6

The woman who inspired the hit TV series Scandal, high-powered crisis manager Judy A. Smith, will discuss her work in politics, media and top-level crisis management when Kean University’s Distinguished Lecture Series continues on Wednesday, February 6.

A “professional fixer” and author of the book, Good Self, Bad Self, Smith has worked on some of the most sensational political events in modern history, including the Iran-Contra investigation; the 1991 Gulf War; the congressional inquiry of Enron; the President Clinton scandal involving Monica Lewinsky; and the Sony Corporation hacking crisis. She will discuss her work that traverses both fiction — the television show — and real life.

Originally scheduled in December 2018, Smith’s lecture was postponed so that she could attend the funeral of President George H. W. Bush, for whom she served as deputy press secretary.

“Judy Smith has a unique vantage point of American politics, media and current events, and we are excited to have her share her knowledge and expertise at Kean University,” said Kean President Dawood Farahi, Ph.D. “The goal of our Distinguished Lecture Series is to expose our students and members of the surrounding community to a wide array of experts and viewpoints. We are proud to welcome Ms. Smith to share her insight.”

The lecture, followed by a short Q&A session, will take place at 4:30 p.m. on February 6 in Kean’s STEM Building, 1075 Morris Avenue in Union. Kean University Vice President of University Relations Karen Smith, a former newspaper reporter and former editor at The Dallas Morning News, will be the moderator at the event.

Admission is free, but registration is required at kean.edu/lectureseries.

Tickets for registered guests will be available at Will Call beginning at 3:30 p.m., and doors will open at 4 p.m. Seating is limited and will be available first come, first served. Unclaimed tickets will be released to the general public at 4:15 p.m.

Judy Smith is both the inspiration for and the co-executive producer of Scandal, the ABC-TV drama about the world of high-profile crisis management. The program was created by Shonda Rhimes, and starred Kerry Washington.

For more than 25 years, Smith’s Washington, D.C.-based firm, Smith & Company, has used its combination of communication skills, media savvy, and legal and political acumen to assist clients facing a wide array of issues and challenges throughout the United States and abroad. Smith is also a counselor to Fortune 500 companies.

She received a B.S. in Public Relations from Boston University and graduated from the American University Washington College of Law where she was the first African-American woman to serve as executive editor of the Law Review.

Smith has received numerous communications and leadership awards, and has made many appearances on major TV networks.

The first presentation in this academic year’s Distinguished Lecture Series, by presidential historian and author Jon Meacham, took place on October 24.