Chrystal A. S. Smith, Ph.D., is a cultural anthropologist whose research uses social science theoretical frameworks to examine the factors that influence the persistence of underrepresented groups in STEM education. Her research has anti-deficit perspective arguing STEM programs should shift the focus of their interventions from “fixing” the students to transforming their culture and climate which includes changing the “weed- out” culture and restructuring their course curriculums so students are more likely to persist and attain STEM degrees. Currently, Dr. Smith is a Program Officer in the Division of Equity for Excellence in STEM, Directorate for STEM Education, National Science Foundation. She is co-lead of the Racial Equity in STEM Education program. She is also assigned to the ECR Core Research and ADVANCE programs. She received her Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Applied Anthropology and her Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) from the University of South Florida, her Master of Applied Anthropology (M.A.A.) from the University of Maryland College Park, and her Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Anthropology from Howard University.