David J. Smith

David J. Smith’s work spans the fields of peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and civic and global education. He has over 30 years’ experience as an educational consultant, lawyer, mediator, college professor, trainer, senior program officer and manager, and author. David supports educators and professionals in developing institution-wide initiatives and student activities promoting civic, peace, and conflict awareness. He works with groups and individuals in need of career and conflict coaching, mediation, and conflict engagement assistance and has consulted with nearly 300 colleges around the U.S. and has given over 500 talks on peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and international education. He is the president of the Forage Center for Peacebuilding and Humanitarian Education, Inc., 501c3 not-for-profit that offers experiential learning opportunities for students and professionals. He has taught at Harford Community College, Goucher College, Georgetown University, and currently at the School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University. He was a U.S. Fulbright Scholar at the University of Tartu (Estonia). He is the recipient of the William J. Kreidler Award for Distinguished Service to the field of Conflict Resolution given by the Association for Conflict Resolution and the inaugural Global Education Award for Outstanding Voluntary Service Leadership given by the World Affairs Council/Washington, DC. David is past chair of the Rockville, Maryland Human Rights Commission, where he received the Community Mediator of the Year Award. While at the U.S. Institute of Peace his efforts resulted in the expansion of peace and conflict approaches in higher education, especially at the community college level. His clients have included the Fulbright Association, where he led its diversity initiative, and Street Law, Inc., where he spearheaded its community college efforts. Smith is the author of Legal Research and Writing (Cengage, 1996) and editor of Peacebuilding in Community Colleges: A Teaching Resource (USIP Press, 2013). He recently published Peace Jobs: A Student’s Guide to Starting a Career Working for Peace (Information Age Publishing, 2016). David is the co-author of USIP Special Report 246 Graduate Education and Professional Practice in International Peace and Conflict (August 2010). He has published in the Chronicle of Higher Education, Conflict Resolution Quarterly, Community College Journal, Journal of Peace Education, Huffington Post, The New York Times, and Baltimore Sun. He is a graduate of American University (BA, political science & urban affairs), George Mason University (MS, conflict analysis & resolution), and the University of Baltimore (JD). He lives in Rockville, Maryland with his wife, who teaches nursing at Montgomery College, and daughter, who is a high school senior. Their son is a Peace Corps volunteer in Namibia.