Naila A. Smith

Naila A. Smith is an Assistant Professor in Human Services at the University of Virginia's School of Education and Human Development. Her research examines sociocultural factors affecting marginalized youth's academic and socio-emotional development, using mixed methods to explore identity, social relationships, and systemic risks like discrimination. She applies latent profile analyses and qualitative approaches to understand developmental trajectories.

Her work aims to inform equitable interventions for immigrant, Black, and Latinx communities across educational and digital contexts.