معرفی
Andy Smith is a Professor of Sport, Education, and Mental Health at Edge Hill University, serving as Director of the Centre for Mental Health, Sport and Physical Activity. His research focuses on mental health inequalities, the role of sport and education in fostering positive mental health, and systems-level interventions in communities and professional sports. He has advised UK parliamentary committees and contributed to national policies like the Moving for Mental Health brief. His work has earned prestigious awards, including the 2016 Times Higher Education Award and the 2022 NIHR Tackling Health Inequalities Award.
Smith holds a PhD in Sociology of Sport from the University of Liverpool (2006), an MA in Sociology of Sport from the University of Leicester (2002), and a BSc in Sports Studies from the University of Staffordshire (2001). He previously served as Reader in the Sociology of Sport at the University of Chester (2006–2012). His research groups include the Sport, Work and Health Research Group and the Sport, Physical Activity, Health & Wellbeing Practice team.
His research explores place-based strategies to reduce mental health disparities, with contributions to sport policy frameworks and collaborations with health organizations. He supervises postgraduate and PhD students, emphasizing mentorship in sport and education disciplines.
Smith’s editorial roles include editorships at European Physical Education Review, Leisure Studies, and Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health. He leads projects like Arts4Us, addressing child and youth mental health through arts initiatives, and Improving sustainable access to mental health care, using community development approaches.
