Thomas M. Smith

Thomas M. Smith is professor of public policy and education in the Department of Leadership, Policy, and Organizations at Peabody College of Education and Human Development at Vanderbilt University. He previously served as dean of the Graduate School of Education and interim provost and executive vice chancellor at the University of California, Riverside. His research focuses on education policy, school improvement, and improvement science, with an emphasis on teacher development and educational equity. He has led major research-practice partnerships, including the Middle School Mathematics in the Institutional Setting of Teaching project and the National Center for Scaling Up Effective Schools, collaborating with universities, school districts, and policymakers to translate research into practice. He is a fellow of the American Educational Research Association. Smith received his PhD in educational theory and policy from Pennsylvania State University.

updated 2025