Pete Smith is an associate professor of communication studies in the Department of Communication at Mississippi State University. A native Mississippian, Pete holds an undergraduate degree in communication from Mississippi State University, a master’s degree in communication from Auburn University, and a Ph.D. in mass communication (with an emphasis on mass communication history) from the School of Communication at the University of Southern Mississippi. His research focus and class time is spent exploring the intersection between gender, media and southern politics. He is on the advisory board of the Mississippi Free Press.