Dr. Candis Smith Live music, book signings and Thanksgiving dinners: Duke’s Faculty-in-Residence Program offers more than just support

The fall semester can be a challenging time for first-years as they search for their academic and social niches, but faculty-in-residence can help guide students through this transition period.

The FIR program places professors in East Campus dorms, where they serve as a sort of “dorm parent” and provide advice and support. FIRs also host a range of events to get to know the dorm residents. Candis Watts Smith, associate professor of political science, is the FIR for Southgate and one of the few new faculty in the program this year. 

Smith tries to teach students skills that can only be obtained outside of the classroom.

“Usually the things that I’m telling them I’m also telling myself, so we’ll just have a conversation, it might be about time management, it might be about priorities, it might be about how to send a high quality email … we talk a lot about how to navigate your time as a student,” Smith said. Learn more here.