Assistant Professor of Education at the University of Virginia
About
Dr. Smith is an assistant professor of education in the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia; his primary appointment is in the Youth and Social Innovation Program. He earned a BA degree in psychology from Morehouse College, a master of science in psychology and doctor of philosophy in education and psychology from the University of Michigan. Smith's research is centered on Black adolescents' sociopolitical development in school and after-school program contexts; his work examines the ways in which Black adolescents recognize, analyze, and respond to oppression (e.g., racism, sexism, classism) in their environment. Additionally, his work employs an intersectional approach to explore Black adolescent school experiences across racial, class, and gender identities. Some of his work can be found in Urban Education and the Journal of Black Psychology. Dr. Smith has taught several courses in adolescent development, educational psychology, and youth racial identity. At the core of who he is as a scholar and a man, Dr. Smith is committed to listening to and amplifying the voices of Black youth.
Current Work:
The Voice Project: A longitudinal examination of sociopolitical development, school experiences, and identity — at the intersection of race, class, and gender — among Black boys in a suburban high school. To address the question "how do middle class Black boys make meaning of their school experiences?," the project employs multiple methodologies (i.e., phenomenology, youth participatory action research [YPAR], photovoice, discourse analysis, and participant observation).
Crafting Success for Underrepresented Scientists and Engineers: A longitudinal examination of the experiences of STEM college students from underrepresented backgrounds (students of color, women, and students from low-income households). This interdisciplinary project involves the work sociologists, psychologists, engineers, science educators, diversity officers, and education researchers at the University of Virginia. This project employs multiple methods, including qualitative focus groups and observations, primary and secondary quantitative data analysis, and protocol development for school and student interventions.
Research Area Keyword(s):
Sociopolitical development; youth participatory action research; Black males; after-school programming; racial identity
