Kendra L. Smith, Ph.D., MPH

Dr. Smith’s work and research revolve around building healthy and equitable communities with community at the table. She is most interested in finding methods of enhancing health, equity, and well-being through community engagement. Specifically, she strives to understand community engagement models that support improved health outcomes.

Dr. Smith recently ended her tenure as the director for community engagement at the University of Houston – College of Medicine in March 2021 to lead Smith Research & Consulting, LLC full-time. In her role at the College of Medicine, Dr. Smith designed programs and collaborative partnerships to improve health and health care systems through medical education and deep engagement in various Houston communities. 

Prior to this, Dr. Smith served as the associate director for community engagement and research at Stanford University within the Center for Population Health Sciences. At Stanford University, she co-led several initiatives including the community engagement cores of the Stanford Center for Clinical and Translational Research and Education and the Stanford Cancer Institute. Previously, she served as a policy analyst at the Morrison Institute for Public Policy and research fellow at the Center for Urban Innovation both at Arizona State University. Her research interests include local government, community engagement, partnerships, and diversity programs.

Her research has been published in the Maternal and Child Health Journal, Frontiers in Public Health; Stanford Social Innovation Review; Scientific American; the American Planning Association’s magazine, Planning; Governing; EduCause; and Public Sector Digest.