Elizabeth B. Goldsmith, Ph.D. – a COSSPP alumna (B.A. Interdisciplinary Social Science with an emphasis on American History ’71) – recently engaged in a conversation with First Lady Jill Biden, Ed.D., at the White House about their mutual roles as college professors.
Dr. Goldsmith is celebrating over thirty years as a White House expert, a journey that commenced in January 1992, when Curator Anne Golovin at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History suggested she study the White House as the most documented house in the country.
“The recommendation came as a surprise to me, and it has led to a long career that continues to be fulfilling and exciting each day,” Dr. Goldsmith said. “This has afforded me the opportunity to work on projects such as architectural history and domestic technology at the White House.”
Her love of history started early in life and continued at Florida State University. One of her favorite professors was the late Jim Jones, Ph.D., a Distinguished Teaching Professor in the Department of History, with specialized research on the American Civil War and World War II.
After graduating from FSU, she attended graduate school at Michigan State University, first earning her Master’s in Family Studies and Sociology, then graduating with her Ph.D. in Family Ecology and Organizational Behavior.
After a few years serving as an Assistant Professor at both New Mexico State University and then the University of Alabama, she returned to Florida State in 1981 as an Associate Professor for the Department of Family, Child, and Consumer Sciences.
She was promoted to full Professor in FSU’s Department of Retail Merchandising and Product Development.
In 2016, after a 35-year career at FSU, Dr. Goldsmith became a Professor Emerita in the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, where she continues to give lectures and publish textbooks. She’s also a Research Affiliated Faculty in Virginia Tech’s College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences. The sixth edition of Dr. Goldsmith’s textbook Foundations of Family Resource Management was published in 2023.
At age 17, she chose to attend Florida State University after visiting other colleges with her parents. She decided to come to FSU for the academic environment and was impressed with the opportunities to grow intellectually and develop important life skills.
“My classes were very general. The Interdisciplinary Social Sciences degree allowed me a lot of freedom to design my own curriculum,” Dr. Goldsmith said.
While at Florida State University, she was a history tutor to freshman students. And to this day she remains active with Phi Mu Sorority, maintaining close friendships with her sorority roommates.
Recalling advice she received early in her career, Dr. Goldsmith stated, “Someone early on gave me the advice not to just sit in my office but to get out there, so that is my advice to current students – follow your interests and see where they lead. Without the grant from the Smithsonian, I would not have been recommended to work in the White House archives.”
Dr. Goldsmith exemplifies the passion, curiosity, and commitment shared by the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy’s 50,000+ alumni worldwide who go on to serve as leaders in their respective fields.
Starting with a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Social Sciences from FSU, she’s had a distinguished and multifaceted career dedicated to preserving the rich tapestry of American history, teaching the next generation, and engaging in top-tier research, while remaining dedicated to public service.
To learn more about FSU’s Interdisciplinary Social Sciences Program, visit coss.fsu.edu/iss