Dr. Carl Smith Iowa State University

Dr. Smith has spent most of his professional career working on issues related to serving students with emotional or behavioral disorders. He currently is a member of the faculty at Iowa State University in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. From 2002 through 2007 he served as Co-Director of the Iowa Behavioral Alliance, a collaborative five-year federally funded grant administered through the Iowa Department of Education. The Alliance involved many Iowa stakeholders including family-led organizations, colleges and universities, mental health professionals, educators and administrators in addressing issues such as positive behavioral supports, mental health services for children and youth and school drop-out challenges.

In the areas of research and service Dr. Smith has been particularly active in policy areas associated with serving students with emotional or behavioral disorders and their families. He has authored or co-authored papers related to assessment of students with behavioral disorders and advocacy issues in serving these youth. Dr. Smith has also been active in working with family-led organizations in areas such as autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders. He also served as President of the Council for Children with Behavioral Disorders ( A Division of the International Council for Exceptional Children from 1984-85.

From a broader perspective Smith serves as a member of the Iowa Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee and for six years served as a member of the Iowa Commission on Mental Health, Mental Retardation, Developmental Disabilities and Brain Injury. He is active with current challenges being faced by our schools. From 1998 until 2010 he helped lead work with a Behavioral Supports Team in Great Prairie Area Education Agency.