U Professor Smith Recognized as one of Nation’s Top Professors

VERMILLION, S.D. (Nov. 18, 2004) – The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) have named Dr. Elizabeth T. Smith of The University of South Dakota the 2004 South Dakota Professor of the Year. She will be recognized for the achievement at the U Dialogue on “Increasing the Challenge” Wednesday, Dec. 1 at 3:00 p.m. in the Neuharth Center. Dr. Smith was selected from among nearly 400 top professors in the United States.

The awards were announced Nov. 18 during a ceremony in Washington, DC. Governor Mike Rounds has also declared the day “Professor Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Smith” day in South Dakota through an official state of South Dakota proclamation. The proclamation states: “Whereas the quality of life and the scope of opportunity for many future citizens of South Dakota will be determined by the quality of teaching in the classroom…it is fitting and proper to recognize and commend Elizabeth T. Smith, Assistant Professor of Political Science at The University of South Dakota, upon being named the 2004 South Dakota Professor of the Year.”

            "Professor Smith has brought broad practical experience (she is a former VISTA volunteer, Wall Street financial analyst, as well as chief administrator for both a mayor and congressional district office) to the highly popular classes she offers in the areas of public administration and campaign management.  Outside the classroom, she has run acclaimed leadership development programs in local communities and successfully mentored several Truman Scholars. I can't think of a more appropriate recipient of the Carnegie South Dakota Professor of the Year Award," said James W. Abbott, President of The University of South Dakota.

Dr. Smith is an assistant professor with a joint appointment in the Department of Political Science and the W.O. Farber Center for Civic Leadership. Prior to joining the U faculty she was a visiting assistant professor in the political science department at the University of Connecticut where she taught in the master’s of public affairs program. Before that she served for two years as a visiting instructor in the government department at Clark University, teaching American government and politics. Dr. Smith received her Ph.D. in political science from the University of Connecticut in August of 1998.

“Professor Betty Smith is a truly gifted teacher and dedicated mentor of students who richly deserves this prestigious honor,” said Dr. Richardson, chair of the U’s department of political science.

CASE established the Professors of the Year program in 1981 and the Carnegie Foundation became the co-sponsor a year later. TIAA-CREF became the primary sponsor for the awards ceremony in 2000. Additional support for the program is received from the American Association of Community Colleges and other various higher education associations.

This year there are winners in 45 states and the District of Columbia. CASE assembled two preliminary panels of judges to select finalists. The Carnegie Foundation then convened the third and final panel, which selected four national winners and the state winners.

The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching was founded in 1905 by Andrew Carnegie “to do all things necessary to encourage, uphold and dignify the profession of teaching.” The foundation is the only advanced-study center for teachers in the world and the third-oldest foundation in the nation. Its nonprofit research activities are conducted by a small group of distinguished scholars.

The Council for Advancement and Support of Education is the largest international association of educational institutions, with more than 3,200 colleges, universities, and independent elementary and secondary schools in nearly 50 countries, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the United Kingdom.  Representing these institutions are more than 38,000 professionals in the disciplines of alumni relations, communications, and fund raising. Additional affiliates include educationally related nonprofit organizations and commercial firms.

For a high definition picture of Dr. Smith please visit www.usd.edu/urelations/images/Dr.Smith.jpg.

For a copy of the Executive Proclamation, please visit www.usd.edu/urelations/images/SmithProc.doc.

About The University of South Dakota

Founded in 1862, The University of South Dakota is designated as the only public liberal arts university in the state and is home to a large College of Arts and Sciences, a School of Education and the state’s only Law School, Medical School, accredited Business School and College of Fine Arts. It has an enrollment of approximately 8,100 students taught by 400 faculty members. More information is available at www.usd.edu/press/news.