Courtney B. Smith joined the faculty of the School of Diplomacy and International Relations in 1999. He was awarded tenure and promoted to associate professor in 2005, at which time he also became an associate dean of the School. His areas of study include international organizations, United Nations studies and peace studies.  

Dr. Smith has interviewed over one hundred United Nations delegates and staff members for his research on the organization and its members. His book, Politics and Process at the United Nations: The Global Dance, was published by Lynne Rienner in 2006. Additional research on the organization's political process has been published in the journals Global Governance, the International Journal of Organization Theory and Behavior, and in the International Journal of Peace Studies, as well as in a volume on multinational policy with Lexington Books and in a volume on informal governance with Edward Elgar Publishers. He has also published on the relationship between the United Nations and its leading member, the United States, in articles for International Studies Perspectives and White House Studies and in an essay for the United Nations Association of the USA's A Global Agenda.  

Other UN related research includes a book chapter on Security Council reform, a review article on the UN Secretary-General for International Politics, two book chapters on Kofi Annan's leadership as Secretary-General, an interview with Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson for The Interdependent, a book review on the UN's role in peace and security for International Affairs, an article on the United Nations Dialogue Among Civilizations for Peace and Change, and a paper on UN peacekeeping for the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Dr. Smith has also published two articles on active learning about international affairs in the journals International Studies Review and International Studies Perspectives.  

Dr. Smith has served as a Faculty Consultant for the Secretariat of the United Nations Year of Dialogue Among Civilizations and as a representative for the School of Diplomacy and International Relation’s NGO affiliation with the UN Department of Public Information. He is an active member of the International Studies Association, the Academic Council on the United Nations System, and the United Nations Association of the USA. He developed and directs the School’s United Nations Intensive Summer Study Program which brings an international group of students to Seton Hall and UN Headquarters for a one week immersion program. In addition, he is faculty advisor to the Seton Hall Model United Nations Association and the School’s student-run international newspaper, the Diplomatic Envoy.