Maya Angela Eipe Smith

Maya Angela Eipe Smith is a Professor of French and Associate Dean for Equity, Justice, and Inclusion at the University of Washington's College of Arts and Sciences. She holds a PhD in Romance Languages and Linguistics from UC Berkeley (2013) and dual MA/BA from NYU's Institute of French Studies (2005). Her research explores intersections of race, language, and identity in the African diaspora, particularly in postcolonial Francophone contexts. Notable works include Senegal Abroad (2019), which won the MLA's French and Francophone Studies Prize, and upcoming titles like Ne me quitte pas (2025) on song translation and Reclaiming Venus (2024) on Black women's narratives in music history.

Her academic awards include the Woodrow Wilson Fellowship and Camargo Foundation grants. Beyond academia, Smith is a visual artist with exhibitions in NYC, Paris, and Seattle, often blending personal and sociopolitical themes. She actively advocates for curriculum diversification and decolonization in French and Italian studies.