William L. Smith is Assistant Professor in the Department of Teaching, Learning and Sociocultural Studies at the University of Arizona. He holds a bachelor’s degree in American Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a master’s of education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.  Prior to earning his Ph.D. from The University of Texas at Austin, he taught sixth grade in under-resourced urban areas of Washington, D.C. and Oakland, C.A. Drawing on critical theoretical frameworks, William focuses his research on racial literacy and curriculum and on developing spaces for discussions of race in elementary, secondary, and university settings.