Robert M. Smith (born 1945), began his career at Slippery Rock University in 1999 as the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs. During his tenure as provost, Smith was instrumental in turning around declining enrollment and improving retention at SRU. He was a member of the Slippery Rock downtown revitalization project. In 2002 Smith was appointed interim President and was subsequently hired as President, the role he filled until his retirement in 2012.
While president, Smith worked to revitalize the SRU campus which culminated in 12 new buildings, including the Robert M. Smith Student Center, 8 building renovations, and a “Green Fund” to implement sustainability efforts across campus. Smith was determined to make SRU a welcoming and inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff. He implemented four Presidential Commissions that created programs, workshops, and symposia to ensure all groups on campus were heard and represented.
Interview: December 5, 2019Interview Transcript |
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