Ellise Antoinette Smith is from Detroit, Michigan, with a research focus on the experiences of bodies that identify as fat. With an interdisciplinary focus, Smith uses photography (#VisualActivism), podcasting, spoken word poetry, and social media as a catalyst to center these narratives.
As doctoral student in the Urban Education Studies program at IUPUI, Smith dedicates her scholarship to creating celebratory spaces for the marginalized identities that she holds using frameworks such as Black Feminist Thought, Sense of Belonging, Intersectionality, and Critical Race Theory. She aims to ensure the work and narratives around bigger bodies are included in academia while challenging the dominant ideologies around body image acceptance.
Smith centers her work within the sector of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and has shown as she pulls from her experiences working with first-generation, low-income students, racial equity, and eradicating injustices for underrepresented populations. Recently, Smith received the 2024 ELEVATE Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advocate of the Year Award Presented by Eli Lilly from the United Way of Central Indiana.
Smith holds a B.S. in Healthcare Administration from Eastern Michigan University and a M.S.Ed. in Higher Education and Student Affairs from Indiana University Bloomington.