Deborah Smith, Professor, Kent Campus, Department of Philosophy
Deborah Smith, Ph.D., is a professor in the Department of Philosophy. Smith started her career at Kent State University as an assistant professor in 1997, and she has been a valuable faculty member at Kent State ever since. Faculty and student success is at the core of all her work. Smith was a leader in moving the university through the pandemic by establishing the value of “do no harm” regarding the university’s faculty and students. During this time, she also served as president of the American Association of University Professors and in this role negotiated a memorandum of understanding. Smith also was involved in the making of every permanent and temporary policy created during the pandemic. Smith is not only a leader at Kent State, but she also is a leader in the state as she defends academic freedom and faculty rights and gives testimony to the state senate on behalf of the faculty at Kent State. Among her many contributions, Smith is a 2018 recipient of the Georgina M. Smith Award from the American Association of University Professors. This national award is presented to one who has provided leadership that improves the status of academic women or has advanced collective bargaining and through that work has improved the profession in general.