R. Allen Smith

R. Allen Smith serves as a Lecturer in the History and Social Studies department of the High School at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA), where he teaches World and U.S. History through rigorous coursework combining lectures, group discussions, primary/secondary sources, films, and artwork. He emphasizes building student rapport to foster ownership of learning in an academically challenging environment.

His educational background includes a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership, M.A. in History and Secondary Education, and B.S. in History and Secondary Education from Appalachian State University, plus an A.A. in Liberal Arts from Central Piedmont Community College.

Smith's research and teaching focus on decolonizing curricula through critical engagement with U.S. History, World History, Race and Ethnic Studies, and Asian Studies. He integrates contemporary perspectives via texts like Tommy Orange's There, There, Carol Anderson's White Rage, and the 1619 Project, while leveraging his National Consortium for Teaching about Asia membership to enrich pedagogical approaches. His presentations on decolonizing educational research reflect scholarly commitment to inclusive historical narratives.

• UNCSA Excellence in Teaching Award (2021-22)
• UNC Board of Governors Award nominee
• Appalachian State University scholarship for Reich College of Education work
• UNCSA Chancellor's commendation (2013)
• Spartan Excellence Award (Mount Tabor High School, 2012)

As student government advisor and cross-disciplinary collaborator, Smith co-created a 9th-grade project experience with English faculty. His 10+ years of international educational travel span Europe, Asia Minor, Central America, and the South Pacific, complemented by domestic tours in Washington D.C., Harpers Ferry, and Baltimore. He actively moderates Bookmarks Festival panels and community book discussions on race, ethnicity, and historical fiction.