Earl Smith, PhD, is Professor of Sociology and the Rubin Distinguished Professor of American Ethnic Studies.  He is the Director of the Wake Forest University American Ethnic Studies Program. Dr. Smith is the former Chairperson of the Department of Sociology (1997-2005).

Prior to his appointment at Wake Forest University in 1996 Professor Smith was Dean (Division of Social Sciences) and Professor of Sociology at Pacific Lutheran University.  Professor Smith also served as department chair while at Pacific Lutheran University.

Prior to his time at Pacific Lutheran University, Professor Smith was the Chairperson (Comparative American Cultures) and Professor of Sociology at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington.  He spent 15 years at Washington State University.  

Professor Smith has numerous publications (books, articles, book chapters ,extended reviews etc) in the area of professions, stratification, urban sociology and published research on university faculty.  He has published extensively in the area of the sociology of sport.

Most recently, Professor Smith is the author of Race, Sport & the American Dream (2007) and African American Families (2007).

Professor Smith is a member of several professional societies including the American Sociological Association, the Society for the Study of Social Problems, Southern Sociological Society, and Sociologists for Women in Society.  Professor Smith is a member of the North American Society for the Sociology of Sport and served as President of  NASSS from 2001-2002.

Professor Smith teaches courses in deviance, family, social stratification and undergraduate courses in American Ethnic Studies. He serves Wake Forest University as a freshmen advisor.