After retirement, VP Roland Smith to return to first love–history

After an academic administrative career that has spanned more than three decades, UD's vice president for student life, Roland M. Smith, will return to his first love–history –upon his retirement.

It's been more than 30 years since Smith earned his master's degree in history at Carnegie-Mellon University in 1970. He added a doctorate in the discipline at the same institution three years later and stayed there through 1985, teaching courses in urban history, American and Afro-American history and curriculum development and evaluation in history and social studies.

In 1979, he accepted a position as assistant to Carnegie Mellon's legendary president Richard M. Cyert and, as they say, the rest is history. Smith became associate provost for academic affairs at Carnegie-Mellon and then served as vice president for student affairs at the universities of Houston and Oklahoma. He came to UD in 1995 as vice president for student life.

In a recent interview, Smith spoke enthusiastically about his tenure at Delaware and shared pamphlets and documents as he spoke of what he considered his major accomplishments:

* The Leadership Development Program, for improving student leadership skills and competencies,

* The 5-Star Chapter Evaluation Program, for improving the quality of fraternity and sorority life,

* The Student Problem-Solving and Action Network (SPAN), for assisting individuals in navigating the University's administrative structure, and

* The 10 Big Strategic Ideas for creating a "healthy and vibrant" living and learning environment outside the classroom--in such areas as physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual wellness; independence and maturity; social and civic responsibility; school spirit and pride; career awareness and preparation; appreciation of diversity; leadership development; academic, personal and professional integrity; creating a just and civil campus community; and academic success.

It was in this last area, Smith said, that tests show how academics and student life are intertwined and dependent upon each other.

"One of the misconceptions about our office is that we are solely a service function," Smith said, "that we help students get admitted, secure a room, provide recreational opportunities. But, we also play a significant role in education. I see our role as much larger. We are responsible for creating an environment in which the educational process thrives. An important part of a University education occurs outside the classroom, and we have to manage that environment and provide opportunities for learning and leadership."

Offering such opportunities for students is one of Smith's favorite subjects. He said he is very proud of having played a role in establishing a major and minor in leadership at UD.

"Leadership development occurs when students are resident assistants or when they take a spokesperson or decision-making role in one of our more than 170 registered student organizations," Smith said. "And, leadership occurs throughout each organization, not only at the top. The person in charge of a subcommittee of a planning group develops leadership skills that are useful throughout life."

Off campus, Smith is a volunteer for the Delmarva Council of the Boys Scouts of America, working in the organization's career exploration program. He also serves on the national board of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and said his presence there was both personally fulfilling as well as helpful in UD's work to promote responsible alcohol use.

Smith calls UD a "world-class, student-centered living and learning environment that educates students to become the next generation of innovative leaders, outstanding professionals and active and contributing citizens.

"The vast majority of young people are decent and good," Smith said. "If you look at the fine young people who graduate and go into professional careers and are so very successful, we can be very proud of our students. In fact, most of the hell-raisers turn out fine, too, since we provide them with the tools they need to succeed. That's what usually happens when they mature and become more responsible."

Smith's formative years were spent growing up in North Texas in the era of segregation. He was born in Ft. Worth, Texas, known then as "Cowtown" and also as the place where the West began.

"I spent about one-half of my growing up years in Ft. Worth, Texas, and the other half in the small town of Greenville, which is located about 50 miles northeast of Dallas. In my youth," he said, "Greenville was known for and hated nationally by African Americans for two things: a lynching of a black man that occurred there in 1908 and an insulting sign that hung on Main Street until the 1970s that read 'The Blackest Land and the Whitest People.'"

When Smith leaves UD June 30, he said he will direct his focus to historical issues, including tracing his family history through Tennessee, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Texas, and gaining a better understanding of the social milieu in which his ancestors lived, during the turbulent times prior to and following the Civil War and during Reconstruction.

ED OKONOWICZ

Photo by Duane Perry