Gregory D. Smithers

Gregory D. Smithers is a Professor of American History in the Department of History at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), recently holding a British Academy Global Professorship hosted at the University of Birmingham. With teaching experience across California, Hawaii, Scotland, and Ohio, his scholarship bridges Indigenous and African American histories from the eighteenth century to contemporary climate justice movements.

His educational foundation includes a Ph.D. in History from the University of California, Davis.

Smithers' research centers on Cherokee history, Two-Spirit identities, and the environmental consequences of settler colonialism, examining how Indigenous and African American communities have navigated ecological disruption and cultural survival. His work consistently connects historical analysis to present-day struggles for racial equity, gender justice, and environmental sustainability, emphasizing Indigenous knowledge systems in climate adaptation.

His publications reveal a profound engagement with marginalized histories, particularly through award-winning works like 'Reclaiming Two-Spirits' (2022) and 'Native Southerners' (2019), which document Indigenous resilience against colonial erasure. Recurring themes include the weaponization of scientific racism, the gendered violence of slavery, and the reclamation of sovereign narratives through cultural renewal.

Major recognitions include:

• 2023 PROSE Award in Cultural Anthropology and Sociology for 'Reclaiming Two-Spirits'
• British Academy Global Professorship supporting 'Native Ecologies' research

At VCU, Smithers mentors graduate students in historical methodology while securing competitive fellowships for projects like 'The Water Carriers,' examining Cherokee relationships with river systems. His public scholarship extends through media collaborations with The Washington Post and Bloomberg News, translating academic research into accessible commentary on racism and environmental policy.

Current initiatives include the 'Treatied Spaces' research cluster at Birmingham focusing on Indigenous climate solutions, alongside completion of 'The Water Carriers: A Journey Through Cherokee History and the Secret Life of Rivers' (Pegasus Books).