Michael R. Smith Named Dean of Georgia Southern University’s College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

February 24, 2009

Michael R. Smith, Ph.D. has been named dean of Georgia Southern University’s College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, one of the University’s largest colleges. He will join Georgia Southern University on June 15, 2009, and will also serve as a professor of political science.

Georgia Southern’s College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences administers degrees in more than 50 majors, concentrations and emphasis areas. In his new role, Smith will direct more than 250 faculty members in 10 academic departments and three centers.

‘Michael has a distinguished academic record and brings a wealth of experience to his new position at Georgia Southern,” said Linda Bleicken, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. ‘Alumni, faculty members, staff and students will find Michael to be a leader who will work with them to grow and enhance the college not only within the state of Georgia, but in the Southeast, nationally and internationally.”

‘The College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences at Georgia Southern University develops critical core competencies for all University students. I am honored to have been selected as dean and I look forward to working with the faculty, staff and students,” said Smith. ‘The College has an exciting future and I am excited to get started.”

Smith is currently a tenured professor and the chair of the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, S.C.

During his distinguished career, he has held faculty positions at the University of South Carolina, Washington State University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Sam Houston State University and the University of Colorado at Denver.

He is the author of more than 25 articles published in social science and law review journals and is a nationally recognized speaker and presenter on the topic of criminal justice practices and their social implications.

He received a B.S. in Administration of Justice from Virginia Commonwealth University, a J.D. from the University of South Carolina School of Law and a Ph.D. from the School of Justice Studies at Arizona State University.

Georgia Southern University, a Carnegie Doctoral/Research University, offers 116 degree programs serving nearly 18,000 students. Through eight colleges, the University offers bachelors, masters and doctoral degree programs built on more than a century of academic achievement. The University, one of Georgia’s largest, is a top choice of Georgia’s HOPE scholars and is recognized for its student-centered approach to education. Visit www.georgiasouthern.edu.