Austin Peay State University is investigating Logan Michael Smith, a recently hired assistant professor of psychology, for allegedly spreading racist, antisemitic, transphobic and xenophobic propaganda via prominent social media accounts.
Sunlight Anti-Fascist Action, a self-identified “collective of anti fascist researchers,” posted detailed documentation tying Logan Smith to far-right hate groups in April 2023. The group updated Smith’s information page on Sept. 10 to include his post at APSU. Smith joined the APSU Department of Psychological Science and Counseling after completing his Ph.D. at Oklahoma State University in 2024.
“We cannot confirm the allegations circulating online,” reads a statement from APSU posted on X on Sept. 11. “Leadership is aware of the situation and assessing validity.”
University president Michael Licari sent out a formal statement this week referencing “concerns about a faculty member’s alleged involvement with extreme hate groups,” but did not name Smith. Licari says the university is “actively assessing the situation,” and describes the alleged propaganda spread by Smith, which includes support for Adolf Hitler and nuclear annihilation, as protected First Amendment speech.
Sunlight Anti-Fascist Action’s page focuses on identifying Levi Smith as Logan Smith with geographic and visual evidence. In a 10-minute interview, an individual who resembles Logan Smith describes his experience attending the Unite the Right rally, a white supremacist event held in Charlottesville, Va., in 2017. The individual identifies himself as “Levi Smith,” the same name tied to several propaganda accounts across different social media platforms. At least one account claimed more than 90,000 followers until the accounts went silent following public allegations of Smith’s identity in April 2023.
Smith did not respond to the Scene’s request for comment. APSU directed the Scene to Licari's letter, sent out Tuesday morning.
