Her scholarship investigates trauma, violence, and loss among black young men. She works to understand how losing loved ones to violence shapes the health, well-being, and success of black males. Smith Lee’s research has been published in various journals including the American Journal of Public Health and presented at national meetings. Before joining the faculty at Marist, Smith Lee completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Michigan School of Public Health’s Center for Research on Ethnicity, Culture, and Health. She has also served as a marriage and family therapist in private practice and community settings in the D.C. metro area and provided individual, couple, family, and group therapy. Smith Lee received her Ph.D. in family science and her M.S. in marriage and family therapy from the University of Maryland.