Scott Schmidt is a Lecturer at Georgetown University in design and Clemson University in public administration. He is also Founder and Executive Director of the Rural Design Project, an education-based public sector innovation studio.
His interest in design was shaped by formative experiences leading trail building projects in the Rocky Mountains, studying urban planning in the barrios of Havana, Cuba, and writing speeches at the US Department of Housing and Urban Development during the global financial crisis.
At Georgetown University he helped develop the Design Management program and currently leads a team of faculty in overseeing the Capstone curriculum where students partner with local communities to design services and experiences for the public good. Examples of this work include wayfinding systems and placemaking initiatives.
An expert and international guest speaker on public sector innovation, his recent publications include an invited chapter on its teaching and introductory text on its practice. Prior to joining academia, he served for 10 years in federal government with a focus on digital transformation at a time when technology rapidly changed the landscape of Capitol Hill.
He holds a Bachelor's in Communication and Political Science from University at Buffalo, Master's in Public Policy from George Mason University, and Master's in Design from Rochester Institute of Technology.