Annie Smith is the Senior Research Officer at The Lynch Foundation. Annie joined the Foundation in 2025 and leads the Foundation’s research, evaluation, and learning efforts across core program areas. Annie also provides strategic leadership for the Catholic Schools Support Network (CSSN), supporting 35+ Catholic schools serving over 12,000 students across the Archdiocese of Boston from preschool through 12th grade. She provides data analysis, professional development, and collaborative learning opportunities.

Annie helped launch the Catholic Schools Support Network in 2023, developing infrastructure, data systems, and convenings to strengthen schools’ operational and academic performance. Previously, she was Vice President of Research and Data at the National Catholic Educational Association, where she led national research on school trends, developed data dashboards for schools and dioceses, and co-authored reports on Catholic education. Earlier in her career, Annie held several research and strategy roles at the Archdiocese of Boston’s Catholic Schools Office, including Associate Superintendent of Research & Data, advancing the use of data-driven decision-making across more than 100 schools.

Annie received her Master of Education in Education Policy and Management from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and her Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from the College of the Holy Cross. She lives in the South Shore and enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons.