For Smith, new role a familiar tune
Dr. Howard W. Smith
07/14/2009
Dr. Howard W. Smith has held a variety of leadership positions at Pittsburg State University - from chairman of the Department of Special Services and Leadership Studies, to director of the Kansas City Metro Center, to legislative liaison and assistant to the president - but it isn't just his career with PSU that has made him a rarity among administrators.
Smith, who has been with PSU since 1996, is what's known as a utility administrator: someone who is just as comfortable serving as CEO of an organization as they are working and making decisions on their own.
Now, Smith has shifted once again. After serving the past three years as PSU's legislative liaison and as the president's assistant, Smith was recently appointed as interim chairman of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Education.
"This is a great department that has tremendous opportunities," Smith said, reflecting on a time when PSU was known as Kansas Teacher's College. "This department is why this institution was founded. If you're looking for the seed of Pittsburg State University, it all grew from here."
His years with PSU - especially in the president's office - have exposed him to some interesting experiences and challenges. He has worked at the state capital on behalf of the university, served as a research integrity and whistle blower officer, created a campus safety team and response plan, and been a liaison between administration and the hundreds of classified state employees working for PSU.
His leadership experience began early. At 26, he was already working as a school principal, by his early 30s was serving in district leadership positions and by the age of 35, was appointed superintendent of the Bentonville (Ark.) School District. He brought a deep experiential base including management of multi-million dollar budgets, senior level academic leadership, comprehensive facility planning expertise and a thorough understanding of how to lead staffs in pursuit of organizational goals.
But when an illness in the family required him to serve as a primary caregiver, he scaled back his professional obligations and for nearly 20 years tried to balance the intense demands of home with the demands of work.
"It is a personal philosophy," he said, "that administrators need to understand the time commitment required to be an outstanding leader and to make that a top priority. If you can't commit the time, then you shouldn't be in a leadership position."
With that belief in mind, Smith took a position as a professor for Emporia State University, where he was afforded much more flexibility. He came to PSU years later as a professor before slowly taking on more leadership roles - including serving as interim superintendent of USD 250, where he helped develop the bond issue and foundation that resulted in the creation of Meadowlark Elementary and the renovation of several other existing schools.
Today, his new two-year appointment - and unique breadth of experience - leaves him open to the future.
"I am ready to be in a position that will capitalize on my leadership capacity again," he said. "I'm excited to be back in the College of Education."
---Pitt State---
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