Sharisse Smith

Professor Smith is an educator, writer, and student success advocate with more than two decades of experience in higher education. As a psychology instructor at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, she brings an interdisciplinary perspective to her teaching, with interests spanning the psychology of women, counseling theories, cognitive psychology, human development, and the intersections of psychology, identity, and culture.

She holds a Master of Fine Arts in Nonfiction Writing from The New School, a Master of Science in Educational Counseling from the University of La Verne, and a Bachelor of Science in Child Development from California State University, Northridge.

Her teaching and writing explore gender, identity, intersectionality, media representation, and the lived experiences of women, particularly Black women. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Essence, and Ebony. Her essay “Picture Perfect” is featured in Not That Bad: Dispatches from Rape Culture, edited by Roxane Gay.

Drawing on her experiences as an educator, writer, and student advocate, she is committed to creating inclusive learning environments that encourage critical thinking, challenge assumptions, and connect psychological research to the complexities of everyday life.