Christopher Smith

Christopher Smith is a distinguished Professor of Ancient History at the University of St Andrews, where he has held a Chair since 2002. He currently serves as Executive Chair of the Arts and Humanities Research Council (2020-2024) and previously directed the British School at Rome (2009-2017), the UK's largest foreign humanities research institution. His leadership extends internationally as he served as President of the Unione Internazionale degli Istituti di Archeologia, Storia e Storia d'Arte from 2012-2017.

His educational background includes:

• BA Hons (First Class) Literae Humaniores, Oxford (1984-1988)
• D.Phil., Oxford (1988-1992)

Smith's research focuses on the archaeology, history, and historiography of archaic and classical Italy, with special expertise in Roman oratory, the topography of Rome and Italy, and early Roman history. His current work, supported by a Leverhulme Major Research Fellowship (2017-2020), investigates the nature of kingship and power in ancient contexts. His scholarly approach integrates textual and archaeological evidence to provide comprehensive understandings of early Roman civilization.

His distinguished honors include:

• Premio 'Cultori di Roma' (2017)
• Election to the Deutsches Archäologisches Institut (2016)
• Membership in the Accademia Etrusca di Cortona (2014)
• Fellowship in the Royal Historical Society (1997)
• Fellowship in the Society of Antiquaries of London (1999)

Smith has provided significant academic service as Reviews Editor and Monographs Editor for the Journal of Roman Studies (2003-2007), and serves on numerous editorial boards including Dialogues d'histoire ancienne and Forma Urbis. His research has been supported by multiple AHRC grants and the Leverhulme Trust Major Research Fellowship. He has held visiting positions at prestigious institutions including Princeton University (2018), La Sapienza Rome (2010), and Trinity College Dublin.

As an academic leader, Smith served as Dean of Arts at St Andrews (2002-2006) and Proctor and Vice-Principal (2007-2009), demonstrating his commitment to institutional development alongside his scholarly work.