Craig Smith

Dr. Craig Alan Smith is a Professor of History and Political Science who teaches classes in U.S. History, historical methods, religious persecution, the nation at war, constitutional law, and American politics.  Dr. Smith is interested in legal history, particularly the U.S. Supreme Court and its justices and how court decisions have impacted people’s lives or changed the course of history.  He has written several articles appearing in the Journal of Supreme Court History, one of which received the Hughes-Gossett Award for best journal article that year.  In addition, Dr. Smith has authored several book chapters on legal issues, and his first book, Failing Justice: Charles Evans Whittaker on the Supreme Court, received the best book award from the Missouri Conference on History.  Currently, he is working on completing a new biography of former Attorney General and Supreme Court Justice Tom C. Clark.

Dr. Smith’s leadership positions at Pennsylvania Western University (California Campus) include serving as chairperson of the Faculty Professional Development Committee (2010-13); Faculty Senate president (2011-15); member of the university Grievance Committee (2011-15) and Sabbatical Committee (2013-15); the local chapter APSCUF vice president (2014-16); the local chapter APSCUF delegate (2017-18); the local chapter APSCUF president (2018-22); and member of the state APSCUF Meet & Discuss team (2015-18).  In addition, he has twice received the Presidential Distinguished Merit Award for Research (2019) and Service (2014).