Dr. Rodney D. Smith Named Senior Vice President and Chief Administration Officer at Texas Southern University

Texas Southern University has named Dr. Rodney D. Smith as Senior Vice President and Chief Administration Officer (CAO).  A nationally recognized higher education leader and visionary administrator, Dr. Smith is leading implementation efforts for Ascend 2030, Texas Southern University’s strategic plan, helping to translate institutional priorities into measurable outcomes. Dr. Smith recently led oversight of audit remediation efforts to address institutional processes and accountability.

“From the moment Dr. Smith arrived at Texas Southern University, his leadership, experience, and steady hand have made a meaningful difference across our institution,” said President J.W. Crawford III. “His deep experience, attention to detail, work ethic, and capacity to communicate will be instrumental as Texas Southern University transforms aspiration into reality.”

As Chief Administration Officer, Dr. Smith serves as the University’s principal executive for driving institutional performance across all non-academic functions. He provides leadership to several divisions and departments, including Business and Finance, Marketing and Communications, Operations and Facilities, University Planning and Analytics, the Office of Information Technology, Human Resources, the Department of Public Safety and Emergency Management, Admissions, Enrollment Management, Financial Aid, and more. He brings significant additional reach to the president to rapidly achieve operational elevation.

Dr. Smith holds a doctorate in Administration, Planning and Social Policy and a Master’s in Education, both from Harvard Graduate School of Education; an M.A. in Clinical/Educational Psychology from Fisk University, and a B.A. in Psychology from Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota.

Dr. Smith served as the inaugural President and Chief Executive Officer of the University of The Bahamas, holding the office during two pivotal periods from 2004–2005 and again from 2014–2022. His tenure was marked by transformative initiatives in fundraising, foundation development, strategic planning, and institutional growth. Prior to that, he served as Vice President for Administrative Services and Chief Administrative and University Planning Officer at Hampton University and as President of Ramapo College of New Jersey.

Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Smith has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to institutional excellence, organizational effectiveness, and transformational leadership. He brings a tremendous amount of talent to the University as it accelerates the ascent into the leading edge of institutions of higher education.