Editor in Chief, American Journal of Community Psychology

Professional Bio

Dr. Emilie P. Smith is a Professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Michigan State University and the inaugural College of Social Science Distinguished Senior Scholar. As the lead of the MSU Youth Equity Project, Dr. Smith directs interdisciplinary efforts aimed at dismantling disparities and expanding opportunities for marginalized youth through community-engaged research. Her work employs rigorous, longitudinal, randomized, and mixed methodologies to explore how families, schools, and communities contribute to positive youth development, with an emphasis on racial-ethnic identity, socialization, prevention, and social justice. She recently co-chaired an international meeting of the Society for Research on Child Development entitled, Anti-Racist Developmental Science Summit: Transforming Research, Practice, and Policy. Her work explores engaged approaches to promoting quality out of school time programs that promote positive youth development and prosocial behavior. Smith was a member of the National Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine consensus study resulting in the newly released report with focused attention on marginalized and low income populations, The Future of Youth Development: Building Systems and Strengthening Programs. In 2024, Dr. Smith became the first African American and second woman to serve as Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Community Psychology. She is a Fellow of APA Division 27, and of the Society for Prevention Research. Her research has attracted extensive grant funding and recognition for its impact on equitable youth and family development.

CP and Me

I first found CP at my alma mater, Michigan State University, while searching for a field to enhance my scholarly development and nurture my predilection for action. Like so many in the positive youth development field, my earliest endeavors came in adolescence while running community-based summer programs. Some of those youth are so successful that I joke that it’s time for “reverse mentoring.” My research mirrors my interests seeking to develop programs WITH youth and not just for them. Similarly with families, we elevate their voices on how prevention and promotion can best serve them. It is an honor for me to serve as EIC, following my mentor, Bill Davidson, Jack Tebes, under whom I served as Associate Editor, and with the support of Nicole Allen, the first woman Editor. We continue to make CP accessible and inclusive of interdisciplinary scholars, practitioners and policy-makers/influencers. Here’s to advancing CP!