Patriann Smith, Ph.D.

Dr. Smith serves as Associate Dean of Faculty Success and Excellence in the College of Education at the University of South Florida. She is a Saint Lucian American Professor of Literacy Studies, an award-winning author, visionary, change agent, and scholar-mother-educator who advances timely solutions at the intersection of race, language, and immigration. Dr. Smith is the outgoing Vice-President and recently began her role as President-Elect and Conference Chair of the Literacy Research Association (LRA). She will go on to serve as President, and Past President of the organization in continuation of her four-year term (2025-2028). The insights from her body of research are accessible in videos on the YouTube Channel, “Black Immigrant Literacies.”