Nassau, The Bahamas - Dr. Rodney D. Smith, until recently the Inaugural President of the University of The Bahamas, will join Templeton World Charity Foundation, TWCF, as a Distinguished Senior Fellow. In this first-of-its-kind role, Dr. Smith will contribute to the Foundation’s mission in support of projects that will form a robust pipeline of innovations, aimed at improving key aspects of human flourishing.
“Dr. Smith’s expertise in institutional development, strategic planning, as well as qualitative and mixed-methods research will be integral in helping the Foundation build research capacity related to human flourishing,” said Dr. Andrew Serazin, Templeton World Charity Foundation president. “His global leadership experience in academia and government offers TWCF a dynamic perspective on growing this burgeoning field of researchers, practitioners, and policy makers.”
Educated in The Bahamas and the United States, Dr. Smith has served in several senior administrative leadership positions in public and tertiary education; as President of Ramapo College of New Jersey; and as last President of the College of The Bahamas and Inaugural President and Chief Executive Officer of University of The Bahamas. He has previously served as founding psychologist of School Psychological Services in the Ministry of Education in The Bahamas. His service included helping to create the Bahamas Defense Force and The College of The Bahamas.
Dr. Smith received his doctorate of education degree from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education in the area of Administration, Planning and Social Policy, where he was also Program Coordinator for Harvard’s Institute for Educational Management. He has served as Dean of the Graduate College at Hampton University, and in several vice president positions. He has participated in several professional development institutes and, until recently, served on the boards of the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas, The Bahamas National Trust, and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, headquartered in Washington, DC. Dr. Smith currently serves as a member of the Bahamas National Advisory Council on Education.
