Professor Smith is Tulane's media spokesman for energy issues and is the Energy Committee chairman for the World Trade Center of New Orleans. He has served as a consultant to Louisiana’s Department of Economic Development and to Greater New Orleans, Inc. In addition, he has served on the city’s energy advisory board to assist with improving the efficiency of electric power generation and distribution.In addition to being the associate director of the Tulane Energy Institute, Prof. Smith teaches in the MME program and in the Energy Specialization program which is open to all Freeman students. Professor Eric N. Smith also produces essential reports and serves as the public face of the Energy Institute, responding to local and national media on energy-related questions. Current plans include a presentation in Shenzhen, China in September concerning Sino-American Energy Trade Policy.
A Freeman alumnus, Professor Smith was teaching night classes at Freeman when the Dean asked him to become the first employee in the Energy Institute. He joined to lend his practical expertise to the program, drawn from many years of service to the energy industry – both domestically and internationally.

In his work for Tulane, Professor Smith draws on 36 years of experience in the petrochemical industry and in the international offshore drilling and construction sectors. He has worked with organizations such as Saipem, J. Ray McDermott, Global Industries, the CRP Group, and Torch Inc, as well as petrochemical companies including Allied Chemical and the Ethyl Corporation. He has also supported reverse trade missions involving Pakistan, South Africa (twice), and Ghana, all sponsored by U.S. T.D.A., a unit of the Commerce Department.