Rate My Professor Natalie Smith

Dr. Natalie Smith serves as Senior Teaching Fellow in the Sociology, Gender Studies and Criminology programme at the University of Otago, within the School of Social Sciences, Humanities Division. She holds a PhD and Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCertHighE) from the University of Otago, and a Master of Arts (MA) from the University of Canterbury. Her academic background underscores her expertise in interdisciplinary approaches bridging social sciences, visual culture, and design. Additionally, she has pursued specialized study at Te Wananga o Aotearoa, completing the Toi Maruata Certificate in Māori and Indigenous Art – Visual Arts and Te Whare Pora, Raranga weaving, enhancing her exploration of indigenous art practices.

Dr. Smith's research specializations include student transitions into university, visual sociology, visual pedagogy, and the social and cultural factors that influence design. She is currently investigating mahi-toi as a research method and framework for writing. In teaching, she supports 100-level courses such as GEND 101 Gender in Everyday Life, SOCI 101 Sociology of New Zealand Society, and SOCI 102 Cultural and Social Identities, while coordinating HUMS 502 Research Methods in the Humanities. She also holds roles as Disability Information and Support Liaison Officer and Pacific Students’ Liaison Officer. Beyond academia, she contributes to arts governance through service on boards of not-for-profit organisations in Aotearoa New Zealand. Key recent publications and contributions encompass chapters in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, including entries on Janet Mary Ironside (2024) and Pauline Boty (2024, with M. Stocker); an exhibition catalogue essay 'To unpathed waters: Meg Gallagher' (2024); a panel discussion 'Eden Hore collection: The fascinating bigger picture' (2025); and a presentation 'Finding a place for art crime in stage one criminology' at the New Zealand Art Crime Research Trust Symposium (2024).