David J. Smith

David J. Smith is a senior program officer in USIP's Education and Training Center, Domestic Programs, where he focuses on secondary and higher education efforts in promoting peacebuilding and conflict resolution. He has primary responsibility for issues related to youth and violent conflict. Smith coordinates the Institute's programs for college and university faculty and secondary social studies teachers. He speaks frequently to community, faculty and student groups on a variety of issues including civil society and peace, child soldiers, conflict resolution, and international education.

His experience before joining the Institute in 2005 focused on teaching at the college and university level. He has also worked in the fields of domestic and community conflict resolution, and as a practicing attorney. From 1992-2005 he taught legal studies, and peace and conflict studies at Harford Community College. As a Fulbright Scholar in 2003–04, Smith taught peace studies and alternative dispute resolution at the University of Tartu in Tartu, Estonia. He has also taught peace studies at Goucher College, was on the faculties of Towson University and Stevenson University, and has lectured on American mediator practice at Uppsala University in Sweden and the University of Jammu in India.

Smith holds a B.A. in political science and urban affairs from the American University School of Public Affairs, an M.S. from the George Mason University Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, and a J.D. from the University of Baltimore School of Law.

Publications:

• "Global peace, conflict and security: approaches taken by American community colleges," Journal of Peace Education, Vol. 5, Issue 1, pgs 63-78 (March 2008).
• "How Community Colleges Can Work for World Peace," The Chronicle of Higher Education (October 2007).
• "A Map of Peace and Conflict Studies in U.S. Undergraduate Colleges and Universities," Conflict Resolution Quarterly vol. 25, no. 1 (Fall 2007).
• Peace and Conflict Resolution Programs at the Undergraduate Level: Fostering the Next Generation of Peacemakers (ACResolution, Spring 2007).
• "Teaching Conflict Resolution in Estonia," ACResolution (Winter 2005).
• "Teaching Gandhi in Estonia," Online Journal of Peace and Conflict Resolution (2003).
• "New Europe, Old Europe," The Baltic Times (November 2003).
• "Goodbye Russia, Hello Europe," The International Herald Tribune (October 2003).
• "The Community College in Peace and War," Conflict Management in Higher Education Report (February 2003).

Presentations:

• "Peace Studies Approaches in Undergraduate Education in the U.S.," Virginia Tech Center for Peace Studies and Violence Prevention, October 23, 2008.