Regan Smith was born on August 13th, 1938, in Michigan. He got his BA in philosophy from Kalamazoo College in Kalamazoo Michigan in 1960 and then went on to marry his wife shortly after this in 1968 named Lillian Sanders Levine. He then got his PHD in sociology from University of Illinois Urbana Champaign in 1970. He had multiple different jobs before his time at Sangamon State University, including at the University of Wyoming from 1970-1972. He then came to Sangamon State University in the same year, becoming the head of the Sociology/Anthropology department. He was also very active in faculty senate and the chair of the University Assembly. He was also involved in the theater program and was the director for three years. He then retired from UIS in 1993 as Professor Emeritus in 1993. He was extremely active in the theater industry around Sangamon County after his retirement until his death on May 9th, 2024.