Matthew J. Smith, Ph.D.
Lecturer of Higher Education Leadership
- Ph.D. in Education (College Student Affairs Administration)
University of Georgia (2021) - M.S. in Counselor Education (Student Affairs Administration)
Mississippi State University (2016) - M.A. in Medical Sciences
Boston University (2009) - B.A. in History
University of Utah (2007)
Teaching Fields: Assessment, history of higher education, organization and governance in higher education, research design and methods.
Matthew J. Smith is a lecturer of higher education leadership. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Georgia in 2021, his M.S. from Mississippi State University in 2016, his M.A. from Boston University in 2006, and his B.A. from the University of Utah in 2007. Much of his teaching focuses on higher education (including but not limited to assessment, history, and organization & governance) as well as frequently teaching courses on research design and methods. His research interests encompass three broad areas: 1) co-curricular college student growth (particularly with regards to graduate and professional students), 2) sense of belonging, and 3) social class identity and impact on college students.
Recent Publications or Presentations:
Rohrer, K. E., & Smith, M. J. (Accepted, forthcoming). Classwork and the Corps: The symbiotic relationship between curricular and co-curricular learning for military cadets majoring in history. Teaching & Learning Inquiry.
Smith, M. J., Burr, K. H., & Dean, L. A. (2025). (Supervised) practice makes progress: Student meaning making and development through internship experiences. Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, 62(1), 1-12.
Smith, M. J., & Wallace, J. K. (2024). Rx to lead: Examining Pharm.D. leadership development commencing during pharmacy school through co-curricular engagement. Education Sciences, 14(4), 386.
Smith, M. J., Estevez, R. I., & Martin, G. L. (2023). “You’re kind of considered like a leper”: A narrative inquiry into how the significant academic struggle of academic probation impacts women undergraduate science students’ sense of belonging at an institution. Georgia Journal of College Student Affairs, 39(1), 150-169.
Martin, G. L., Smith, M. J., Takewell, W. C., & Miller, A. (2020). Revisiting our contribution: How interactions with student affairs professionals shape cognitive outcomes during college. Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, 57(2), 148-162.