Smith, Richard

UNC Service

Department chair 2000-2002; director of SAMSI (a UNC-Duke-NCSU research institute) 2010-2017. University Research Council, Divison of Physical Sciences and Mathematics, committee member or co-chair; Fall 2006 to Spring 2009. Member of Fellowship Committee of the Graduate School and the Society of Fellows Faculty Committee; 2004-2007. University-appointed Trustee of NISS, 2001--2004. Member of Science Advisers Committee established by Associate Dean Forest, 1998-2000. I have also served on numerous departmental committees, including chair of the search committee for our most recent faculty hire.

Candidate Statement

Having recently completed a marathon for the fortieth year in succession, I think I can claim some expertise in the challenges of combining academic and athletic activity. However, the challenges for our students are quite different. Student-athletes in my classes have had very different abilities, including at least one student who both won a national championship and getting an A grade in my class the same semester. However, other students struggle with the challenges, and I am far from convinced that the current advising system is serving them well. If elected to this committee, I would be happy to serve on any of the four main subcommittees, but my overall objective would be to improve the quality of support available to the students.