Current Position and Past Experience
Dr. Vernon C. Smith joined American Public University System as Provost in 2016 bringing his extensive background in online learning issues and practices, including effective quality, assessment, and retention strategies. Dr. Smith was an early adopter in the use of big data for predictive modeling and teaching excellence to promote student success.
Prior to APUS, Dr. Smith was with the University of the Pacific where he served as Vice Provost of Distributed Learning and Associate Professor of Practice in the Gladys L. Benerd School of Education. At Pacific, he led digital and adult learning initiatives including oversight of the Center for Professional and Continuing Education, the Center for Teaching and Learning, and support for hybrid and in-person programs and faculty on the Sacramento and San Francisco campuses.
Education, Honors and Achievements
Dr. Smith was recently elected to the Executive Council of WCET (WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies) a division of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. He currently serves on the Advisory Board for ELI (EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative) and served on the EDUCAUSE Board of Directors. He served on the membership and data working groups for Transparency by Design, a national higher education accountability initiative that included APUS as a charter institution. His research interests include high-quality, cost-effective production models for online courses, the unbundling and re-bundling of the faculty role, adjunct faculty issues, academic integrity, and teaching and learning.
Dr. Smith earned his Bachelor of Arts degrees in Latin American Studies and Spanish at Brigham Young University, graduating Magna Cum Laude. He has a Master of Organizational Behavior from the Marriott School of Management at Brigham Young University. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Organization and Administration of Higher Education from the Center for the Study of Higher Education at The University of Arizona.
Personal Details and Community Involvement
Dr. Smith has received the Dolores Brown Award from Arizona AATSP, Administrator of the Year Hallmark Award from Phi Theta Kappa, and has been recognized for outstanding teaching, presentations, and service including the Homer Sarasohn Award for Meritorious Service.
Connect
You can connect with Vernon Smith on
LinkedIn
