Art Smith

Art Smith is an Adjunct Professor in the Finance Department at the C. T. Bauer College of Business, University of Houston. He earned his Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from Texas A&M University in 1978 and has extensive experience in commodity markets and energy trading. Previously, he served as an Executive Professor at Texas A&M University and held leadership roles at the Chicago Board of Trade and NYMEX, including chairing the Globalization Committee and contributing to the Henry Hub Contract development.

• Education: Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics, Texas A&M University (1978).

Art specializes in commodity market analysis with a focus on business development and risk management. His expertise spans agricultural markets, crude oil, petroleum products, biofuels, natural gas, power trading, and high-frequency trading. He has contributed to energy trading education through the Reliant Trading Center's curriculum at Texas A&M and the Global Energy Management Institute at the University of Houston.

Art has held significant roles in financial institutions, including Manager of New Products at the Chicago Board of Trade and a member of NYMEX's Board of Governors. He also served as Chief Economist for CIMA ENERGY LTD from 2009 to 2014, developing innovative energy contracts and managing crude-by-rail throughput capacity. Currently, he acts as an economist at Agrimar Inc.

He is affiliated with the Global Energy Management Institute, a strategic initiative within the University of Houston's Finance Department. His work bridges academic instruction with practical applications in energy markets, emphasizing risk assessment and trading strategies.