Dr. Steven Smith, who has two decades of experience in providing strategic leadership in higher education student recruitment and retention, has been named the new director of Alumni Relations and Constituency Services at Jackson State University.
A Jackson State alumnus, Smith most recently served as assistant vice president of Enrollment Management at Tougaloo College in Jackson, Miss. In the role, Smith directed recruitment strategies designed to annually enroll an average of 350 new students to the college consistently for 10 years, generating an average of $5.6 million to the operating budget. He was responsible for the oversight and management of four departments: recruitment, admissions, financial aid and parent relations/scholarship services.
While at Tougaloo, Smith developed, implemented and evaluated ongoing programs of extra and co-curricular activities designed to compliment formal academic learning. He also served on the leadership committee for the college’s recertification.
Previously, Smith served as interim director of student activities at Tarrant County Community College Southeast Campus in Arlington, Texas. As interim director, Smith facilitated planning activity meetings with students and faculty; supported orientation programming for new students and provided academic instruction to diverse student populations. He served as an adjunct instructor as well.
Smith was employed at JSU in the 1990s as coordinator of Community College Recruitment. His duties included developing and implementing recruitment strategies to increase the university’s traditional and nontraditional student populations. He also established and cultivated effective relationships with community colleges, technical colleges and high school counselors, including providing information about state policies, deadlines, various new initiatives and other relevant information to ensure the success of transfer students.
In the business sector, Smith was the marketing manager for MCI WorldCom in Richardson, Texas. His responsibilities included facilitating training and presentations to develop a marketing expansion/growth plan. He also managed product definition and development, along with sales support.
Smith earned a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication and a Master of Science in Educational Administration and Supervision from JSU. He also received a Ph.D. in Education Administration, Supervision and Leadership from JSU. He is a 2006/07 graduate of Leadership Jackson.
Smith also is a former JSU football player and an entrepreneur.