Jay M. Smith

Jay M. Smith is the Julia Cherry Spruill Distinguished Professor of History at the University of North Carolina. He specializes in early-modern France, focusing on political systems, cultural history, and institutional dynamics. His research integrates historical linguistics and microhistorical analysis to explore transformative periods such as the French Revolution and the Old Regime.

Education:

• B.A. (1983) and M.A. (1985), Northern Illinois University
• Ph.D. (1990), University of Michigan

Research Interests: Smith examines the negotiation of political change, particularly through the lens of language evolution. His work addresses royal absolutism, patriotic thought, revolutionary origins, nobility dynamics, and historical folklore (e.g., the Gévaudan beast legend). Recent projects include comparative studies of political accountability in the 18th-century North Atlantic and exposés on academic-athletic scandals.

Teaching: Courses include Old Regime France, the French Revolution, historical methodology, and critical analyses of big-time college sports. He frequently integrates case studies and microhistorical approaches.

Grants & Advising: Currently not accepting graduate applicants. Advised students include Alexandra Ramsland, Clare Byers, Glenn Callihan, and Steven Weber. Active in interdisciplinary collaborations, including sports ethics and historical pedagogy.

Labs/Teams: Engaged with UNC’s history department initiatives on public history and academic integrity. Co-authored Cheated (2015) with Mary Willingham, a landmark study on athletic scandals.