Special education instructor named UF Research Foundation professor

The University of Florida Research Foundation has awarded a three-year Research Professorship to COE Special Education instructor Stephen W. Smith, the second time in seven years he’s received the prestigious designation.

The foundation annually chooses at least one tenured professor from each UF college for the professorship, recognizing their distinguished research record over the past five years that is likely to lead to continuing distinction in their respective fields. Smith previously was chosen in 2000.

Smith teaches courses on classroom and behavioral management, and has directed a number of research grants on the effectiveness of classroom-based activities designed to change student’s anger and aggressive behavior and reduce disruptions.

He has received three teaching awards and a 1992-93 Research Achievement Award from UF’s Division of Sponsored Research, designating him as one of university’s top 100 faculty researchers.

He is principal investigator of a new $1.6 million grant from the National Center for Special Education Research, part of the U.S. Department of Education, that expands the breadth and scope of his research team’s anger and aggression-intervention studies.