Dr. Kweku Akyirefi
Psychologist
Dr. Ramel Smith was born and raised in Milwaukee, WI. He is a product of the Milwaukee Public School (MPS) system. He continued his education at the University of Wisconsin- Whitewater, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Psychology. He later went to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he earned his Masters of Science in Educational Psychology and Doctorate of Philosophy in Urban Education with an emphasis in School Psychology. He completed an American Psychological Association (APA) accredited clinical internship at a juvenile correction institution.
Dr. Smith is a licensed psychologist in Wisconsin. He has served as a para professional, special education teacher, and school psychologist within MPS over the years. In addition to his work with MPS, he has worked in the Wisconsin Department of Corrections and Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, as a clinical psychologist. Smith has also taught undergraduate and graduate courses in the areas of Sociology, Cultural Diversity, Orientation Skill Training, Fiscal Management, Research & Evaluation, Group Counseling and Professional Ethics at UW-Milwaukee, Marian University, Springfield College, Waukesha County Technical College and Wisconsin School of Professional Psychology.
Since 2007, Smith has been the President of BLAQUESMITH Psychological Consultative Services, Inc. As chief consultant, Dr. Smith’s work with the federal government, Washington DC Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services and Kansas University’s SWIFT urban education project; to improve educational outcomes for at-risk youth, adjudicated youth and school districts in need of improvement. In addition to his work nationally, Dr. Smith strives to make an impact locally through providing training and support to area schools and agencies on the topics of violence prevention, trauma informed care, foster care reform and human trafficking. He has authored several scholarly journal articles and book chapters, edited a book and co-authored another book entitled Building a Better Man: A Blueprint for Decreasing Violence and Increasing Prosocial Behavior in Men. Dr. Smith appears regularly as a commentator for local and national radio, television, and print news outlets.
