Peggie R. Smith

Peggie R. Smith is a Professor at Washington University in St. Louis, specializing in the regulation of care work across domestic and professional settings. She serves as the Faculty Ombuds (Danforth Campus) and holds affiliations with the American Law Institute, Labor Law Group, and the editorial board of the Employee Rights and Employment Policy Journal.

• Education: B.A. (1987), M.A. in African American Studies (1990) from Yale University; J.D. from Harvard Law School (1993)
• Prior Roles: Clerked for Judge Michael Boudin (1st Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals); taught at multiple law schools
• International Experience: Faculty at the University of Trento, Faculty of Jurisprudence (Trento, Italy)

Her research focuses on work-family balance, domestic labor regulation, and employment equity, particularly in elder care and home-based services. She has contributed to debates on paid care worker protections and gender-based employment discrimination.

Key themes across her scholarship include domestic worker health and safety, aging populations, and legal frameworks for decent work. Her work bridges law, social policy, and gender studies.

• Scientific Awards:
  • Outstanding Scholar Award, Lutie Lytle Workshop (2013)
  • Elected Member, American Law Institute (2017)
  • Secretary, Executive Committee, Labor Law Group (2010-16)

Smith has held leadership roles in professional organizations, including Chair of the Executive Committee for the Section on Labor Relations and Employment Law at the Association of American Law Schools (2013-14). Her publications appear in journals like the Buffalo Law Review and Employee Rights & Employment Policy Journal.