Michael Smith is a Professor of Political Science and Chair of the School of Humanities + Social Sciences at Emporia State University. Since joining ESU in 2005, he has taught courses focused on state and local government, political philosophy, political parties, campaigns, and elections. Dr. Smith is widely recognized for connecting classroom instruction to real-world political issues, encouraging students to engage in civic life and better understand how politics shapes communities and everyday experiences.

Dr. Smith earned his Ph.D. in Political Science and Government from the University of Missouri–Columbia, following an M.A. from The Ohio State University and a B.A. from Reed College. His research focuses on state and local government, civic engagement, and voting laws. He has authored and co-authored several books, including Low Taxes and Small Government: Sam Brownback’s Great Experiment in Kansas, Much Sound and Fury or the New Jim Crow, and Reform and Reaction, the Arc of Kansas Politics. In addition to academic publications, he has contributed commentary to the Insight Kansas newspaper column series.

Beyond teaching and research, Dr. Smith has served in multiple leadership roles at ESU, including Chair of Social Sciences since 2014. He has also been called upon as an expert witness in several court cases, including the 2018 voting rights case Bednasek v. Kobach, further demonstrating his expertise in government, elections, and public policy.