About Me

Dr. Ikeranda Smith (Dr. Ike) is an expert in human behavior, a professor, and a writer whose work explores the patterns that shape how we live, love, work, cope, and connect. As a researcher, she develops frameworks and tools that help people better understand their emotional patterns, their origins, and how they continue to shape their lives. As a professor, she creates dynamic learning environments that challenge scholars to think beyond traditional boundaries. Drawing from psychology, sociology, and emotional intelligence, she helps students connect theory to the complexities of human behavior and develop the critical thinking necessary to become thoughtful contributors and global thinkers. As a writer, she is interested in the stories beneath the stories: the experiences we inherit, the patterns we learn, and the behaviors that begin to make sense once we understand their origins.

The authenticity reflected in Dr. Ike’s life is central to her philosophy. She firmly believes in the transformative power of doing 'the work' while acknowledging the profound impact of dismantling inherited constructs, particularly those rooted in each individual’s family of origin. Driven by a passion for healing and unlearning self-destructive behaviors, she has experienced unequivocal transformations in her life, marriage, and perspective.

With a doctorate in psychology, Dr. Ike focuses on establishing safer spaces that foster a sense of collaborative care. Her research interests include exploring the underrepresentation of BIPOC individuals and the harmful ways in which systems of oppression seek to dismantle families, and how fundamental it is that individuals decolonize their perspectives in order to create communities that are rooted in self-love and collective care. Dr. Smith believes that across the dimensions of her work runs one central belief: when we better understand human behavior, we can better understand ourselves, one another, and the communities we create.