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Mitchell Smith Appointed Interim Dean of David L. Boren College of International Studies

Mitchell Smith Appointed Interim Dean of David L. Boren College of International Studies

Effective Oct. 14, Mitchell Smith, Max and Heidi Berry Chair in International Studies and an award-winning educator whose studies have focused on comparative and international political economy, will serve as the new interim dean of the David L. Boren College of International Studies at the University of Oklahoma. He replaces Jill Irvine, Presidential Professor of International and Area Studies and senior vice provost, who has stepped down after fulfilling the role since January.

Smith is a professor in the Department of International and Area Studies. For the past four years, he has served as associate dean for academic affairs in the College, and he served as IAS department chair for seven years.

Smith directs OU’s European Union Center, whose mission is to advance knowledge of the European Union across the university, local community and state of Oklahoma by hosting speaker series and seminars and providing graduate student research support. He has led a number of study abroad programs over the years, including a graduate course this past summer in Ireland, which focused on the potential impact of Britain’s exit from the European Union.

Smith holds a bachelor of arts degree in economics from the University of California, Berkeley, master of public administration degree from Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, and doctoral degree from Princeton University’s Department of Politics.

He has been a Fulbright Fellow in European Union Affairs and a Visiting Fellow at the Centre for European Policy Studies in Brussels, Belgium, as well a Jean Monnet Fellow at the European University Institute in Florence, Italy.

Smith’s work focuses on comparative and international political economy, with a particular emphasis on European integration.

Smith will serve as interim dean of the College of International Studies until a permanent dean is selected. A national search for the position of dean is currently underway.

Mitchell Smith

Article Published: Wednesday, October 23, 2019