Dr. Ryan Smith
HANCEVILLE – Wallace State Community College has announced the appointment of Dr. Ryan Smith as dean of students. He will assume the new role on July 2.
“Wallace State looks forward to continuing to strengthen access, opportunity and success for all students under Dr. Smith’s leadership,” said Wallace State President Dr. Vicki Karolewics.
Smith brings extensive and wide-ranging leadership and experience to the dean of students role. He previously served at Oakwood University in Huntsville as dean of enrollment and career services, Title IX administrator and assistant vice-president for student services. He also served as a professor of social work at Oakwood as well as Alabama A & M University, and he was the director of field education for the Graduate School of Social Work at California State University – East Bay Hayward. His community college experience includes stints as student services management director, in which he functioned as the associate dean of students, and as director of adult education, both at J.F. Drake State Community and Technical College.
"I am elated that I will have the opportunity to work with Dr. Vicki Karolewics and her team at an institution that supports students and ensures that its graduates are prepared for the 21st century workforce," said Smith.
For his dissertation, Smith compared Alabama community college residential and non-residential students' persistence. He plans to be a champion of student access to higher education by supporting the strategic initiatives of WSCC.
As dean of students at Wallace State, Smith will oversee all aspects of student affairs including admissions and records, financial aid, academic advising, enrollment management, disability compliance, career services, testing services, academic support services, Talent Search, Student Support Services, judicial affairs, recruitment and student activities. He will serve both the main campus in Hanceville and Wallace State’s new satellite campus in Oneonta.
Smith holds a doctorate in Higher Education Administration from Morgan State University in Baltimore, a Master of Social Work from Alabama A & M, and a Bachelor of Social Work from Oakwood.
He is married to Nicole and together they have one daughter, Addison.
