Evan Smith

Evan Smith (born April 20, 1966) is the president and editor-in-chief of Texas Monthly.

Born in New York, Smith has a bachelor's degree in public policy from Hamilton College and a master's degree in journalism from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University (which inducted him into its Hall of Achievement in April 2006). He previously held editorial positions at a number of national magazines, most recently as deputy editor at The New Republic. Smith has written for GQ and other national magazines. Since February 2003, he has hosted a weekly interview program, Texas Monthly Talks, which airs on PBS stations all across Texas.

Smith is currently president of the Austin Film Society board and sits on the boards of the Jack S. Blanton Museum of Art at the University of Texas at Austin, Trinity Episcopal School, the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, the Headliners Club, and Matinee Media. He is also the founding co-chair of the Texas Film Hall of Fame. He served for five years on the board of the American Society of Magazine Editors, most recently as its vice president, and for six years on the board of KLRU, Austin's public television station.

Work At Texas Monthly

Smith joined the staff of Texas Monthly as a senior editor in January 1992. In February 1993, he was promoted to deputy editor, and in July 2000, he was made editor. In May 2002, he added the title of executive vice president. In July 2008, it was announced that Smith would become the magazine's president and editor-in-chief, succeeding founder and publisher Michael R. Levy.

Since Smith took over as editor, Texas Monthly has been nominated for 14 National Magazine Awards, the magazine industry's equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize. In April 2003, Texas Monthly was awarded the National Magazine Award for General Excellence for only the third time in its history.