Biography

Ronald H. Smith is the Inaugural Director of the Karsh STEM Scholars Program (KSSP).  He has served in various capacities in higher education administration for almost 40 years.  Before coming to Howard University to develop and lead the BSSP, he was the Vice President of Student Affairs at Baltimore City Community College.  After leaving that post he entered retirement that lasted for 14-months.  He was lured out of retirement by what he calls, an outstanding opportunity to contribute to the academic and social development of young people.  Most of Mr. Smith’s higher education career has been devoted to student development.  He is excited about the opportunity to address the problems that result from the underrepresentation of African Americans and other minorities who earn PhDs in STEM disciplines and MD/PhDs.  This underrepresentation has resulted in few minorities who teach as members of the professoriate, lead research teams, engage in policy development or who lead STEM-related organizations in both government and the private sectors.  Working with other stakeholders both in and outside the University, he hopes to help reverse this problem and create a more just and representative STEM-related workforce.