Dr. Roderick L. Smothers, who currently serves as vice president for institutional advancement and development at Huston-Tillotson University has been tapped to lead Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Smothers will serve as the school’s 14th president when he takes helm of the small, private Black liberal arts college in January 2015. He replaces Dr. Johnny Moore, who abruptly resigned earlier this year. Since February, Dr. Lloyd Hervey has been the school’s interim president.
“I’m obviously extremely humbled and excited,” said Smothers, in an interview with Diverse. “To be able to build upon such a strong and historic legacy is indeed a blessing. I look forward to working with the entire college community ― our students, faculty, staff and alumni ― to advance the PSC mission and vision to new levels of excellence. Our job is to now provide the type of forward-thinking leadership that will result in alumni who are equipped with the skills, resources and qualifications to make valuable contributions to Arkansas, the United States and the world.”
He said that he will devote attention to student retention and wants to help the school become better known across the country.
“Right now, we are in the top 30 percent among HBCU liberal arts colleges,” said Smothers. “I want to see us in the top 10 to 20 percent over the next five years.”
Smothers is no stranger to higher education. He earned a Bachelor of Science in psychology, a master’s in public administration with a concentration in higher education administration, and a Ph.D. in educational leadership, research and counseling from Louisiana State University. Prior to his appointment as vice president of institutional advancement and development at Huston-Tillotson, Smothers held the same position at Langston University.
Artee Williams, chairman of Philander Smith College’s Board of Trustees, said that after conducting a national search, Smothers emerged as the ideal person for the job.
