Austin Peay and Vanderbilt Alumnae Dr. Margaret Smith Returns to Tennessee

Columbia State Community College announced the hiring of Dr. Margaret Smith as Executive Vice President - Provost. Dr. Smith, who earned her bachelor's and master's degrees at Austin Peay, and her PhD at Vanderbilt's Peabody College, returns to Middle Tennessee after spending her career in Hopkinsville, Kentucky and most recently Bainbridge, Georgia, where she served in various roles including Acting President, Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dean of the Faculty and Professor of English at Bainbridge College. She will begin her responsibilities at Columbia State on July 1.

As a member of the President's Cabinet, Smith will serve as the senior academic and student officer for Columbia State, and as the Chief Executive Officer of the College in the absence of the President. She will be responsible for providing dynamic and strategic leadership for the development and implementation of successful academic and student programs and services, support excellence and innovation in learning centered academic programs, instruction and services, as well as recruiting and retaining faculty and staff committed to student development. Smith will also be responsible for advancement of the academic and student mission and implementation of the College's academic and student success plan. She will develop and oversee student activities and programs, as well as promote partnerships with community businesses, agencies and other organizations, and foster collaborative efforts with K-12 education and other higher education institutions.

"Dr. Margaret Smith comes to Columbia State with a wealth of experience and an excitement for the College and the community that will provide leadership for continued growth of our academic and student services areas," said Dr. Janet Smith, president of Columbia State. "We are pleased that she has accepted the position and look forward to her beginning her responsibilities."

Prior to her time at Bainbridge, Dr. Smith served as coordinator of continuing education and community services at Hopkinsville Community College in Kentucky. Prior to that, she held the roles of coordinator of off-campus credit programs, coordinator of on-campus testing, coordinator of Ft. Campbell Programs and language arts instructor at Hopkinsville. She began her career as a part-time speech instructor at Austin Peay State University. She completed postdoctoral study at the University of Georgia Department of Speech and Communication in the fall of 2001.

"Columbia State has a rich history of providing high quality programs and services to its region," said Dr. Margaret Smith. "The college personnel whom I have met are dedicated to excellence, and I am honored to have been selected to join them."