Rate My Professor Cindy Smith

Dr. Cindy Ann Smith is a Senior Lecturer in Educational Psychology in the School of Education at Curtin University, Perth, Australia. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Special Education, with her doctoral research completed between 2007 and 2012 focusing on essential components of mentoring programs. Her professional career encompasses roles as a public school teacher specializing in children with behavioral disorders, university lecturer, administrator, and researcher. Originally from the United States, Dr. Smith has collaborated with academic institutions there, including through publications affiliated with the University of Missouri. At Curtin, she lectures in educational psychology, curriculum design, special education, teacher development, and women's studies, contributing to professional learning hubs and discipline expertise in these areas.

Dr. Smith's research centers on teaching methods, special education, teacher education, instrumental mentoring, inclusive education practices for students with autism spectrum disorder and LGBTQI+ youth, professional identity formation, and work-integrated learning preparation. Key publications include 'Building an effective school-based mentoring program' (Smith & Stormont, 2011, Intervention in School and Clinic), 'Long-term mentors’ perceptions of building mentoring relationships with at-risk youth' (Smith, Newman-Thomas & Stormont, 2015, Mentoring & Tutoring: Partnership in Learning), 'Supporting undergraduate university students through instrumental mentoring' (Smith et al., 2020, Australian Journal of Teacher Education), 'Queering interventions: improving pre-service teachers’ knowledge and awareness of LGBTQI+ inclusive practice' (McKenzie et al., 2024, Societal Impacts), 'A home-based intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder: Outcomes for Saudi Arabian families' (Alanazi, Alsharif & Smith, 2022, Issues in Educational Research), and 'Empowering Second+ Career Female Academics: Strengthening Relationships through Mentoring for Personal and Professional Growth' (Smith et al., 2024, Advancing Women in Leadership Journal). Her scholarship, with over 90 citations, impacts mentoring frameworks, teacher training, and diversity-inclusive policies. Dr. Smith supervises doctoral students, serves as Vice President of the Western Australian Institute for Educational Research (WAIER), participates in research groups such as STEM Education, and delivers public presentations on inclusive education and mentoring.