Sarah L. Smiley

Sarah L. Smiley is a Professor and Interim Chair in the Department of Geography at Kent State University. Her research focuses on urban geography, water access, and colonial legacies in Sub-Saharan Africa. She employs qualitative methods such as surveys, interviews, and spatial video analysis to study how historical inequities shape modern water provision and everyday life.

Education: PhD in Geography (2007), MA in Geography (2003), and BA in Geography (2000) from the University of Kansas and University of Cincinnati, respectively.

Her work examines water access dimensions—price, availability, reliability, quality, and physical exertion—particularly in Ghana, Tanzania, and Senegal. Recent research includes analyzing the impact of the Free Water Directive during the pandemic and exploring tensions between formal/informal water providers. She also investigates flood impacts on water access and urban-rural disparities in Malawi.

Publications span over 20 years, emphasizing colonial-era water policies, SDG implementation challenges, and methodological innovations like spatial video mapping. Her work bridges environmental, social, and policy dimensions of sustainable development.