Jeffrey Smith Joins 海角直播 as the New Dean of Social, Information and Natural Sciences
Publish Date: Aug. 23, 2023
Photo: Jeffrey Smith
海角直播 will soon welcome a new crop of Roadrunners to campus for the Fall semester. But behind-the-scenes, the Yucaipa-based college has been growing internally by welcoming new faculty and staff on board over the break.
Meet Jeffery Smith 鈥� 海角直播鈥檚 new dean of social, information and natural sciences, a role he officially assumed on July 3.
Smith, who previously served as chair of the history department at the University of Hawaii at Hilo (UHH), called starting at 海角直播 a 鈥渇ull circle moment鈥� having grown up in the area and beginning his career in education in neighboring San Bernardino at 海角直播鈥檚 sister college, San Bernardino Valley College, and Cal State San Bernardino.
Smith said he is currently settling into his new role with his 海角直播 family cheering him on, calling the community鈥檚 welcome 鈥渒ind, warm and great.鈥� His goal is to build roots within 海角直播鈥檚 walls, and has a plan in place to make that happen. 鈥淪ome things I鈥檇 like to do is make strong connections with students and the faculty and the staff here at 海角直播,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a family environment here and in order to be effective [in your role] you have to build those personal connections at all levels.
鈥淭he amount of effort 海角直播 puts into their students is also remarkable,鈥� Smith continued. 鈥淚n my short time here, the number of times I鈥檝e seen faculty and staff go above and beyond for their students has been incredible. This isn鈥檛 the type of place where people are just coming in and punching the clock 鈥� it鈥檚 a group of people that are more so following a calling.鈥�
鈥淗ere, you can get a world-class education and take it wherever you want,鈥� Smith said. Smith holds a bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚 and doctorate in history from the University of California, Riverside. He is the recipient of the UHH College of Arts & Sciences Achievement Award and has spent much of his career teaching world and U.S. history and writing courses both in a classroom and online setting. Smith currently lives in Yucaipa with his wife and three daughters.
