She teaches courses within the area of teacher preparation at the undergraduate and graduate level as well as graduate courses focused on special education research for Master's and Education Specialist candidates. Dr. Smith's research interests include mentoring as an intervention for children and adolescents at high risk for academic and social failure. Variables explored for risk of failure include those in the areas of culture such as discrimination and environmental factors such as poverty and abuse as well as. Theoretical foundations of interest include behaviorism, attachment and social learning theory. Prior to her appointment at the University of West Georgia, Dr. Smith served as a special education teacher of students with severe behavioral disorders and worked with families of children with disabilities as a behavioral specialist.