Originally from Pennsylvania, still a die-hard Philadelphia Eagles fan, Brian William Smith is formally the Interim Associate Dean for the School of Behavioral and Social Sciences, but he is first of all a professor of political science who is passionate about his job. 

He earned his Ph.D. in political science from Pennsylvania State University and worked at East Carolina University for three years.

“The opportunity to teach different courses and … the ability to teach bright students brought me [to St. Edward’s University in fall 2003],” Smith said.

He also likes the small classes of the school. If students often say that they need teachers who are really interested in what they do then Smith fulfilsl those requirements. 

Despite the fact that teaching was a family trend, he found the job really fit his interests.

“My grandmother was a teacher, my mother was a teacher, but … I get to talk about what I love,” Smith confessed.

Smith could talk about politics for hours and that is what his job is.

“I like interacting with students and faculty about what I’m interested in,” Smith said.

As an active teacher of St. Edward’s and as a political scientist who loves to talk, Smith frequently explains and analyzes politics for TV channels such as Fox 7, ABC, NPR or KLBJ. 

He even answered questions for a newspaper in Brazil and a radio station in California.

Those experiences give him opportunities to talk about politics, but for a different audience. It also makes him one of the professors who come from a bigger university, such as the University of Texas at Austin, who explains the world to thousands of people.

However, the difference is that he represents our small university and gives it a say in the media through his voice.

Smith reported what William Nichols, another political science professor, said about him and his passion of talking about politics.

“The most dangerous place to be at St. Edward’s is between me and a microphone,” Smith said.

Not only does Smith talk about politics, he also researches it. 

With a specialization in American government, particularly in electoral behavior and voting opinion, Smith is even more interested in the electoral process than in policies.

“I am fascinated by elections and … I find them very exciting. I think that it’s even more interesting than the actual governing,” he said.

Only a Texan for nine years, Smith is doing work on Texan elections, with a focus on Gov. Rick Perry, who was a presidential candidate.

After the primary elections, it became a totally different topic.

“Now I am doing research about why he did so poorly,” Smith said.

Smith is a teacher who promotes our university through his voice. Students can register for different classes that he teaches frequently including American Dilemmas, Capstone, Public Policy, Political Research and Statistics, Elections and Voting and American Government, which he admits is his favorite class.

“It is never the same class twice,” Smith said.