Moody Welcomes New Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Moody Welcomes New Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Ya’Ke Smith

Writer Emily Anaya Designer Emma Bittner

This January, Moody College of Communication welcomed Associate Professor of film Mr. Ya’Ke Smith as our new Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Smith’s passion and talent for storytelling extend back to his formative years growing up in San Antonio, and he’s been committed to sharing stories with the world through film ever since. His films purposefully shine a light on issues few people take the time to, recounting unique tales of hardship that society often prefers to gloss over or ignore entirely. Smith’s inspiration for his deeply moving narratives comes from his desire to represent the nuances of the minority experience, delving into issues like disparities in access to resources. Smith has proven his talent for capturing the challenges people of color face through his own experience as a black man in America and his conscious effort to tell the “unorthodox” stories of others’ experiences.

His commitment to unconventional storytelling lends him the vital role as a mouthpiece for a nationwide community of peoples and has earned him broad recognition including Ya’Ke Smith Day in Buffalo, New York. This passion for storytelling goes hand-in-hand with his passion for serving people of color through his message. In our interview, he pointed to the disturbing reality of black Americans constituting a disproportionately large population of Coronavirus victims. It’s a deadly symptom of deeper problems. This cannot be laid to rest with the people the virus takes, and he refuses to let it. The issues Ya’Ke Smith tackles in his films are timely, rooted in generations of systemic oppression, and ever so consequential.

Smith’s career in filmmaking is marked by an extensive list of successes, including upwards of 90 film festivals under his belt, praise from NPR, and screenings of his film dawn. on HBO to name a very limited few. He earned his M.F.A. from the University of Texas at Austin’s film program where he currently teaches and is among the beloved professors who encourage their students to prioritize their mental health during this stressful and historic time. Despite his vast success and worldwide acclaim, Smith is down-to-earth and genuine in his love for his students.

During these uncertain times characterized by a global pandemic, Smith remains hopeful for the future. Ready and prepared to support his students in any way that he can, he’s proving himself to be flexible under stress by holding steadfast to his movement and goals.

Ultimately, what matters most to Moody students is not what we can read about him in his bio. It isn’t where Smith got his degree. Nor is it his years of experience or the awards he’s received. The people of Moody, students and staff alike, care most that Ya’Ke Smith is prepared to go to bat for us. That he’s ready to take the stance that will stir up the sediment, resting in layers after years of comfortable complacency. And he is.

Smith’s number-one priority in his role is the students he advocates for, saying that “For me, it’s about making sure that we support our students more holistically, that we understand them.”

After watching the emotionally powerful messages of his films, reading up on his credentials, and most importantly, holding a genuinely rewarding conversation with the man himself, I’m confident that Ya’Ke Smith is the person Moody College of Communication needs to advocate for the voices we don’t always hear. Serving this college as the representative of its minority peoples is a great responsibility, and he values it immensely as a greater opportunity for positive change within Moody and beyond, and for that, we are fortunate.