Travis C. Smith

Dr. Travis C. Smith is a proud native of LaFayette, AL and alumnus of The Alabama State University. In 2020, he earned a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership in Higher Education at Clemson University. As a critical educator, he focuses on inquiry, practice, and pedagogy that helps disrupt oppressive systems to support racially minoritized students. His research agenda sits at the intersection of race, gender, and class at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), the experiences of Black graduate students at PWIs, and post secondary access for rural Black students. Some of his previous work utilizes a variety of qualitative methodological approaches such as phenomenology, photo-elicitation, photovoice, ethnography, and critical participatory action research. Travis’ work can be found in several peer-reviewed journals across the field. To date, Dr. Smith boasts an impressive record that includes, 16 publications, 34 national conference proceedings, over 55 regional conference proceedings and workshops, and over $2,300,000 in educational research and outreach grants.

In 2011, he founded Unite Inc., a nonprofit that helps connect high school students to HBCUs and HBCU students to opportunities. Unite has assisted its high school seniors accumulate over $42.2 million in scholarships. They have been accepted to over 750 universities across the nation. Dr. Tee is also a proven fundraiser and has raised over $2.5 million for the organization since 2015. But he didn’t stop there; Dr. Smith has led fundraising alumni efforts for the Office of Alumni Relations at Alabama State University that resulted in bringing in over $448,000 since 2021.