TSUS Regents honor former Texas State VP for Student Affairs Joanne Smith

The Texas State University System Board of Regents has honored former Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Joanne Smith in recognition of more than 28 years of leadership at Texas State University.

The board approved the honor during its quarterly meeting August 12, 2021, at Sul Ross State University in Alpine.

Smith retired in May 2020 after more than 44 years of service to higher education in leadership positions, 28 of those years at Texas State.

“I am appreciative of the members of the Board of Regents for this very well-deserved recognition of Dr. Joanne Smith,” said Texas State President Denise M. Trauth. “Dr. Smith served our university and our students for almost three decades. She made a difference in Texas State and in the lives of thousands of students.”  

Smith came to Texas State in 1992 as director of residence life. In 2000, she was promoted to associate vice president for student affairs and director of enrollment management. She was named vice president for student affairs in 2005. Smith held the title of assistant professor and was one of the founding faculty members of the Master of Education in Student Affairs in Higher Education. She continues to work with the program.

Prior to coming to Texas State, Smith served as director of housing and orientation, assistant dean of students and minority counselor at McPherson College for 10 years. Before that, she spent six years at Arizona State University as assistant director of operations in residence life.

Throughout her career, Smith has actively participated in and provided leadership through her membership in numerous national, state, and regional associations including the American College Personnel Association, the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, the Association of College and University Housing Officers-International and the Southwest Association of College and University Housing Officers.

She was awarded the Esther Lloyd-Jones Professional Service Award by the American College Personnel Association and the Dr. Kent L. Gardener Award by the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors.

Smith earned a B.S. in elementary education at Edinboro University in Pennsylvania, a master's degree in student personnel and guidance from Wichita State University, and a Ph.D. in student personnel administration from Kansas State University.

The Texas State University System, founded in 1911, is the first higher education system established in Texas. Today, seven component institutions offer a broad range of academic and career opportunities. Throughout the system, faculty and staff are preparing students to work in and contribute to our global society.