Harris D Smith is the Dean of the College of Fine Arts at the University of New Mexico. He earned his M.F.A in Acting from the University of Washington, School of Drama and his B.A. in Theatre from Montana State University.

Harris is a Certified Teacher of stage combat through the Society of American Fight Directors and is a former member of Actor's Equity and the Screen Actor's Guild.  His work as an actor, fight director and movement coach includes; St. Louis Black Repertory, Illinois Shakespeare Festival, Nebraska Repertory Theatre, Capital Repertory (NY) and Seattle Children’s Theatre, Utah Shakespeare Festival, A Contemporary Theatre (Seattle), Sacramento Theatre Company, Shakespeare on the Green (Nebraska) as well as other national and international venues.