Nicole D. Smith is the arts and entertainment editor for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She joined the newspaper in February 2016. Prior to the AJC, she worked at CNN, ESSENCE magazine, and as a social media strategist for Bounce TV. She currently serves on the board of the Center for Collaborative Journalism at Mercer University and as the DEI programming chair for Girl Talk, Inc., a nonprofit that focuses on leadership and peer-to-peer mentorship for girls. Nicole has a Master of Arts in Education and Human Development with a focus on Organizational Leadership and Learning from The George Washington University. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Georgia and is originally from northern Ohio.