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- Title:
- Sam H. Smith interview
- Interviewee:
- Smith, Samuel H., 1940-
- Interviewer:
- Wadland, Justin
- Date Created:
- 2020-02-11
- Role:
- University administrator
- Department:
- Washington State University
- Subjects:
- Higher Education Coordinating (HEC) Board Kelso Gillenwater Herb Simon News Tribune Washington State Legislature Ryan Petty University of California, Berkeley Pennsylvania State University branch campuses place-bound students Washington State University Western Governors University plant virology DNA farmworker first-generation student
- Biography:
- Samuel H. Smith (b. 1940) is president emeritus of Washington State University. He retired in 2000. During his presidency at WSU, he successfully established WSU Spokane, WSU Tri-Cities, and WSU Vancouver. Surveying potential WSU branch campus locations in the late 1980s, he was invited to Tacoma for a famous helicopter tour, arranged by Ryan Petty of the Economic Development Board. Prior to arriving at WSU in 1985, Smith worked at Pennsylvania State University for 16 years, initially as a faculty member, then department head, and finally, dean of the College of Agriculture and director of both the Cooperative Extension Service and Agricultural Experiment Station. He was a faculty member at University of California at Berkeley prior to Penn State. Smith earned 2 plant pathology degrees from UC Berkeley, a bachelor’s in 1961 and a PhD in 1964.
- Description:
- In this interview, Sam Smith discusses his personal background as the son of migrant farmworkers, the transformative impact his education has had on his life, and influential mentors who guided him on a path to becoming a leader in higher education. He mentions specifically John Oswald, former president of University of Kentucky and Pennsylvania State University, and Clark Kerr, first chancellor of UC Berkeley and president emeritus of the University of California system. He notes the vision he had for WSU when he arrived in 1985 and accomplishments during his administration. He remembers the strategic discussions he has had with Tacoma community leaders and powerbrokers, particularly the late Kelso Gillenwater, publisher of the Tacoma News Tribune, about establishing WSU branch campuses. Finally, he offers his insights on branch campuses and the mission to serve students.
- Location:
- United States--Washington (State)--Tacoma United States--Washington (State)--Pullman United States--Pennsylvania--State College United States--California--Salinas
- Type:
- Sound; Text; StillImage
- Format:
- cpd
- Preferred Citation:
- University of Washington Libraries, University of Washington Tacoma Library, UWTOH202008