School of Diplomacy Dean Courtney B. Smith Elected as a Member of the Council on Foreign Relations

Seton Hall University’s School of Diplomacy and International Relations is honored to announce that Dean Courtney B. Smith, Ph.D. was recently elected a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Dean Smith's areas of study include international organizations and peace studies. He is also a leading expert on the United Nations and has conducted extensive research on the UN’s political processes, Security Council reform and relations with the United States.

The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is a nonprofit think tank that was established in 1921, representing a large group of individual and corporate members who generate intellectual and thought-provoking conversations regarding the current issues in foreign policy and international relations. As noted by CFR, "Approximately 5,000 people have joined it, including top government officials, scholars, lawyers, nonprofit professionals, journalists, educators, religious leaders and business executives."

To become a CFR member, applying candidates need several letters of support from current members. Throughout this application process, Dean Smith received a large number of letters from current CFR members. While the membership process was rigorous, Dean Smith was proudly elected as a member with his extensive academic background.

As stated by Dean Smith, "The key aspect of the Council is its networking opportunities with other members. It offers a unique environment to interact with other people about the various dimensions of critical issues in international affairs. This prestigious membership will allow me to build new relationships that will benefit our School, students and faculty."

In order to reflect the diversity of American society, CFR preserves and grows a strong membership of citizens with a wide range of viewpoints, backgrounds, interests and experiences. As noted by the organization's president, Michael Froman, "Members are the lifeblood of CFR and are its unique strength. We seek to broaden, deepen and diversify the community of those engaged in the conversation about foreign policy."

Dean Smith joined the faculty of the School of Diplomacy and International Relations in 1999. He served as Acting Dean from August 2019 to March 2022, when he was appointed Dean. He has been a Faculty Consultant for the United Nations Year of Dialogue Among Civilizations Secretariat. Additionally, he has represented the school at the UN Department of Global Communication as part of its NGO affiliation and for Seton Hall's consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council. He is Vice President of the Academic Council on the United Nations System and a member of the Board of Directors for the American Conference of Academic Deans. He has interviewed  hundreds of UN delegates and staff and has published widely in top academic journals and books.

Categories: Nation and World