Fred W. Smith (1935- ) was born in New Germantown, PA on December 19, 1935. He earned his B.A. in philosophy with a minor in social studies and secondary education from Wheaton College in Illinois in 1957. After graduating, Smith began teaching junior high school while working on his master's degree. He graduated from Wheaton College again in 1959 with an M.A. in Biblical Literature. The next year, Smith began working at Michigan State University as the Head Resident. While working on his Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration at Michigan State, he started working as the Assistant Dean of Students at Alma College. Smith stayed at Alma College until he earned his Ph.D. in 1969. He then accepted a position as the Associate Dean for Student Affairs at Oakland University in Rochester, MI. Smith came to the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in 1971. Having already served as Dean for Student Resource Services at Oakland University, he was appointed to the position of Vice President for Student Affairs for RIT. He continued in this job until 1993 when the position of Secretary of the Institute and Assistant to the President was created. As the president's assistant, Smith was responsible for cultivating relationships with RIT donors, alumni, parents, and students. He acted as the president's point person for all matters having to do with the college's Board of Trustees and helped organize events for the Nathaniel Rochester Society, Institute of Fellows, and Women's Council. Throughout his tenure at RIT, Smith was published in several journals and presented at professional conferences in the field of higher education. He was honored as the first recipient of RIT's "Four Presidents Award" for public service in 2003. Outside of RIT, Smith was involved in the Rochester community. He served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Rochester Museum and Science Center from 1977-1979 and as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Strong National Museum of Play from 1996-1998. He was also a member of the Family Service of Rochester, the Fortnightly Club of Rochester, the Gyro Club of Rochester, and the Hillcrest Investment Club. Additionally, Smith served on the Board of Trustees for his church. Smith married JoAnne Morris with whom he had two children. He retired from the Institute in 2008.
From the description of Fred W. Smith papers 1964-2008 (RIT Library). WorldCat record id: 758506065
