Anthony Smith
Anthony was born and raised in St. Louis, Mo., and addressing the obligate regional question, attended Whitfield High School. He decided to tax his asthma and remain in allergy-riddled St. Louis, where he earned his B.A. at Washington University, while taking out his academic aggressions playing defense for the Wash U Bears’ club roller hockey team (culminating in a 4th-place finish at the National Collegiate Roller Hockey Championships in Las Vegas in his sophomore year). Following a passionate childhood fascination with sharks, Anthony continued his studies as close to the ocean as possible, earning a Ph.D. in Microbiology/Immunology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in southern Fla., where he managed to convince his mentor that scuba diving lessons would enhance his well-roundedness in the biological sciences (ask to see his picture of him kissing a tonically-immobilized shark). After a near run-in with a 10-foot alligator (seriously), he moved as far away as possible from a tropical climate and settled in a more “temperate” region, gaining valuable research experience as a postdoctoral scholar at the University of Minnesota medical school, studying traits of a successful HIV vaccine.
He began mentoring/training students while in the research laboratory, which grew into a full-time role when he transitioned to instructor for a few medical school post-baccalaureate programs. Realizing he thoroughly enjoys helping students navigate the perils of academia and research, he jumped at the opportunity to return to his alma mater and work first as an assistant dean and now lecturer and coordinator of undergrad research experiences in the biological sciences. He keeps busy teaching, advising, and promoting research opportunities for students in Arts * Sciences. He also directs a multi-semester cancer program, titled, “The Hallmarks of Cancer & Patient Care.”
In his free time (which is nonexistent now that he parents a young daughter), he enjoys hiking, playing recreational sports, “geeking out” with fantasy/sci-fi movies, and spending time with family.