Nathan Grant Smith, Ph.D. received his Bachelor of Arts at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX, and his Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy, both in Counseling Psychology, at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA. He completed a predoctoral internship at the University of Maryland Counseling Center in College Park, MD, and a postdoctoral fellowship in HIV prevention research at the Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS (CIRA) at the Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, CT.

After completing his research training, Smith completed a Congressional fellowship through the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Psychological Association. During his fellowship, he served as a legislative fellow in the United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions under Senator Edward M. Kennedy. Smith’s policy portfolio included HIV/AIDS, mental health, and substance abuse.

Smith served as an assistant professor for four years in the Department of Psychology and Philosophy at Texas Woman’s University in Denton, TX. He then served on the faculty of the Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology at McGill University, Montreal, QC, where he was awarded tenure and promotion to associate professor. After 5 years at McGill, he joined the Psychological, Health, & Learning Sciences (PHLS) Department at the University of Houston. He is currently a professor and Chair in the department and serves in the counseling psychology program.

Smith is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association (APA) and has held numerous leadership positions within the Association, including chairing the Fellows Committee and the Committee on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Concerns in addition to serving on the Membership Board. He was recognized for his advocacy on behalf of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender issues by the APA Division 17 (Society of Counseling Psychology) Section on Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Awareness, who awarded him the 2008 Award for Significant Contribution to Social Justice and Advocacy.