Prior to joining the Advancement team, Erika Cornelius Smith held an appointment as Associate Professor of International Business and Political Science, as well as chair of the International Business and Civic Leadership programs, at a business-specialty school in New England. With more than 15 years of experience in higher education, her academic career includes serving as an instructor and course designer at private colleges, public research universities, community colleges, and virtual global campuses. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy and political science from Millikin University, a Master of Arts in political science from Eastern Illinois University, and a Ph.D. in history and certificate of advanced study in women’s, gender, and sexuality studies
from Purdue University.
Dr. Smith maintains an active scholarly research agenda, with research and commentary featured in print and broadcast outlets, and she contributes interdisciplinary scholarly research to peer-reviewed journals such as White House Studies, Journal of Transnational Management, American Studies in Scandinavia, and International Journal of Export Marketing, as well as numerous monographs and edited collections. Her forthcoming book, Service Above Self: Women Veterans in American Politics (under contract with UKansas Press, 2022) explores the political careers of servicewomen who run for national office.
In addition to her academic scholarship and public commentary, Dr. Smith utilizes her government expertise to promote economic development, food security, and tribal sovereignty in service to the regional Indigenous People’s Network and Pocasset Pokanoket Land Trust.