Norman R. Smith

Nationality| American
Citizenship| United States of America
Alma mater|

* Drexel University
* Harvard University

Occupation|

* University administrator
* Author

Organization|

* Elmira College (President emeritus)
* Wagner College (President emeritus)
* Registry for College and University Presidents & Registry Advisory Services (Team Leader & interim president)

Spouse(s)| Dr. Susan Robinson
Children| 1
Website| normansmith.org

Norman Smith is an American university administrator with over 40 years of experience in higher education.[1] He has been president/chancellor at various institutions, including Wagner College, Elmira College, Suffolk University Boston, The Alamein University Egypt, Dowling College, and Richmond University London. Smith is currently president emeritus at Wagner College and Elmira College. He is team leader for the Board Governance and Leadership practice at the Registry's Advisement Services branch (RAS).[2][3][4]

He is known for his expertise in transforming underperforming colleges and universities. Smith has received several awards for his leadership in higher education, including the American Association of University Administrators Trachtenberg Award in 2018.[5]

## Contents

* 1 Education
* 2 Career
* 3 Awards and recognitions
* 4 Books and Publications
* 5 Personal life
* 6 Gallery
* 7 References
* 8 External links

## Education[edit]

Smith completed his bachelor's degree in management from Drexel University in 1969 and earned an MBA in organizational leadership from the same university, graduating in 1971. In 1984, Smith obtained his Doctorate in Education from Harvard University's Graduate School of Education.

Smith has also received honorary doctoral degrees in education and humane letters from Richmond, The American International University in London, Philadelphia University, and Wagner College.[6]

## Career[edit]

Smith started his career in 1971 as the assistant dean of students at Drexel University, followed by vice presidencies at Philadelphia University (now Thomas Jefferson University) and Moore College of Art & Design. In 1978, Smith joined Harvard University as an assistant dean at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. In 1980, he became the inaugural assistant dean of the John F. Kennedy School of Government.[7][8][9]

In 1988, he became the president of Wagner College, a position he held until 2002 when he assumed the role of president emeritus. At Wagner College, Smith widely credited with having achieved one of the greatest transformations in the history of American higher education at its Staten Island campus.[10]

He also served as president and professor at Richmond University, The American International University in London, from 2002 to 2008.[11]

In 2010, Smith became the founding chancellor of The Alamein University, an American International University in Alexandria, Egypt, overseeing its design, construction, and staffing. However, the project ceased due to the Arab Spring revolution.[12][13][14]

In 2012, Smith returned to the United States and joined the Registry of College and University Presidents, serving as team leader of the Board Governance and Leadership practice of the Registry's Advisement Services branch (RAS).[15]

In 2013, Smith became the interim president of Dowling College, appointed via the Registry for College and University Presidents consulting firm. In 2014, Smith joined as the interim president at Suffolk University, a position he held until 2016. In 2016, Smith became the interim president of Elmira College. He is currently president emeritus at Elmira College.[16][17]

Smith has held various board positions, including an executive committee member of the New York Council of Independent Colleges and Universities and a director of Dime Savings Bank in New York City. He was the host chair of the Presidential Summit of the Association of American International Colleges and Universities in London and is the higher education counsel for ESOL Education headquartered in Dubai and Cairo.[18]

In addition to his administrative roles, Smith has authored several books on university education. His debut publication, "Selecting the Right College," was published in 1995. In 2010, the Council of Independent Colleges recognized his publication "Top Tier: The Wagner College Turnaround Years" as a "Book of Note" for college presidents and academic leaders. In 2013, he co-authored "What College Trustees Need to Know" with George J. Matthews and Bryan Carlson. He has also authored "Mistakes to Avoid When Selecting Your College," an e-book. In June 2017, he published his most recent book, "Top Problems Facing Colleges" which issued its third edition in 2023.[19][20]

## Awards and recognitions[edit]

* In 2018, Smith received the Trachtenberg Award for Leadership in Higher Education from the American Association of University Administrators.
* In 1994, he received the New York University Presidential Medal for distinction in higher education leadership.
* Smith has received the Salvation Army Man of the Year award and the Snug Harbour Cultural Center (NYC) Neptune Award for contributions to art and culture in New York City.
* Drexel University designated Smith as an inaugural top 100 alumni in 1991.
* In 2015, he received the second Alumni Award for career achievement from Drexel University.

## Books and Publications[edit]

* Smith, Norman R. R. (2017). Top Problems Facing Colleges: And What to Do. iUniverse. ISBN 978-1-5320-2247-0. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
* Smith, Norman R. (2010). From Bottom to Top Tier in a Decade: The Wagner College Turnaround Years 1988-2002. iUniverse. ISBN 978-1-4502-4311-7. Retrieved 10 April 2024.[21]
* Buy What College Trustees Need to Know: Second Edition 2019-2020 Book Online at Low Prices in India | What College Trustees Need to Know: Second Edition 2019-2020 Reviews & Ratings - Amazon.in. p. 302\. ISBN 978-1475981506. Retrieved 10 April 2024.

## Personal life[edit]

Smith resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is married to Dr. Susan Robinson, a career educator and arts executive. They have a daughter, Caroline, a free lance graphic designer in New York City.

## Gallery[edit]

*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *

## References[edit]

1. ↑ "Dr. Norman R. Smith". Alumni. 19 October 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
2. ↑ "Suffolk's President Quietly Steps Down; 'Turnaround Specialist' to Take His Place". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
3. ↑ "School, Interrupted: An Alum is Forced to Leave His Work in Egypt Behind | Harvard Graduate School of Education". www.gse.harvard.edu. 16 February 2011. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
4. ↑ "K-School Dean To Head Flynn Staff". The Harvard Crimson. 1984-04-25.
5. ↑ Staff, Peter Schworm Globe. "Suffolk University abruptly replaces president - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
6. ↑ Island, Wagner College Work One Campus Road Staten (28 July 2025). "President Emeritus Smith updates his Wagner book". Newsroom. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
7. ↑ Jamieson, Bob. "Champagne steps down as Elmira College president". Star-Gazette. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
8. ↑ "The Times, They Are A'Changing". Wagner Magazine. 29 April 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
9. ↑ "An American's Flight from Egypt". SILive. 2011-02-12.
10. ↑ Advance, Staten Island (14 November 2010). "Wagner's decade of transformation". silive. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
11. ↑ Taylor, Cyril (15 February 2013). "Sir Cyril: My Life as a Social Entrepreneur". books.google.com. Amberley Publishing Limited. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
12. ↑ Smith, Norman R. R. (1 May 2017). "Top Problems Facing Colleges: And What to Do". amazon.com. iUniverse. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
13. ↑ laline@siadvance.com, Brian J. Laline (6 April 2025). "The reinvention of a college | From the editor". silive. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
14. ↑ "Drexel 100 Newsletter – Spring 2013". Drexel University. Spring 2013.
15. ↑ "Breaking Ground: Norman Smith, Ed.D.'84 | Harvard Graduate School of Education". www.gse.harvard.edu. 21 January 2011. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
16. ↑ "Chief Chosen". boston.suffolk.edu. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
17. ↑ "'Wagner: The Movie' (1992)". wagner.edu. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
18. ↑ "Introducing Dr. Norman Smith, leader of the RAS Board Governance and Leadership Practice". www.registryinterim.com. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
19. ↑ "Dr Norman R Smith Named University President". www.suffolk.edu. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
20. ↑ Advance, Staten Island (4 June 2010). "Ex-president of Wagner accepts post". silive. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
21. ↑ "From Bottom to Top Tier in a Decade: The Wagner College Turnaround Years 1988-2002". amazon. Retrieved 5 September 2025.

## External links[edit]

* Personal website
* Norman Smith on LinkedIn