Jesus G. Smith (He, Him, His)

Jesús Gregorio Smith is an Associate Professor and chair of the Ethnic Studies Program as well as an Associated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM) Andrew W. Mellon Fellow. He received his PhD in Sociology in 2017 from Texas A&M University where he studied the intersections of systemic racism, masculinity, and sexuality and how they influence mental and sexual health. He has published various research pieces, including peer-reviewed articles and chapters in such venues as Archives of Sexual Behavior, Aids & Behavior, and Issues in Race & Society. Dr. Smith co-edited a collection of essays through Lexington Books titled Home and Community for Queer Men of Color: The Intersection of Race and Sexuality. Alongside his academic work, he has published op-ed pieces and public sociological essays in such venues as RacismReview, Black Perspectives, and Latinx Talk. His research has been featured and his expertise sought after in popular media presses including VICE, The Washington Post, and Rolling Stone Magazine. Similarly, he has won the national research grant, the Woodrow Wilson National Foundation Career Enhancement Fellowship, for Junior Faculty.

Dr. Smith is a well known and respected public speaker. He has given several keynote addresses at such places like Northern Michigan University, College of Lake County-Greyslake, Madison College, Fox Valley Technical College, and the University of Texas at El Paso among many others. Dr. Smith has spoken on issues related to the social construction of race in US society, the targeting of Black men in the legal system, sexual racism in dating preferences, racial content creation and pornography, Black Male Leadership as well as gender and sexuality throughout societies among other topics to corporate, public and academic audiences. 

As an expert witness on web-based geosocial networking sites, sexuality, and race, Dr. Smith has testified in federal court twice for the State v. Diaz-Martinez trial in 2024 and 2025 in Prima County, Arizona. His insightful testimony helped juries understand online sexual cultures, behaviors and negotiations.

Dr. Smith regularly mentors, collaborates with and publishes with students and faculty. He has won several teaching and research awards including the 2019 Lawrence University Beta Psi Nu Chapter Faculty Excellence Award, the 2020 Lawrence University Faculty Diversity and Inclusion Champion Award, and the 2022 Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Higher Education Shining Star Award for the entire Fox Cities metropolitan area. During the Lawrence University 2022 Spring Commencement, Dr. Smith was given the Award for Excellent Teaching by an Early Career Faculty Member by the University.