Kathryn Smith is General Director of Madison Opera, a Vice Chair of OPERA America's Board of Directors, and Chair of the Women's Opera Network Steering Committee. Under her leadership, Madison Opera has expanded its repertoire with twelve company premieres, created a Studio Artist program, and built the Madison Opera Center, the company's artistic and administrative home. Smith began her career at Lyric Opera of Chicago before moving to the Metropolitan Opera, where she became assistant artistic administrator. She was then general director of Tacoma Opera for seven years. She is a native of Seattle and a graduate of Harvard University.