Sandra Smith is the interim dean of the School of Professional Studies, following the departure of Shankar Prasad PhD’06 last month.
Since joining the school in 2015, Smith has worked in various roles, from program director to senior associate dean. She assumed her new role as interim dean at the start of this month and will remain in the position until the University selects Prasad’s permanent successor.
Throughout her time at Brown, Smith has worked with other universities and corporations to develop SPS’s executive education programs, in which Brown faculty lead courses and programs for companies and other organizations.
“The executive education portfolio was essentially a blank slate when I joined Brown,” Smith wrote in an email to The Herald. But the school’s “amazing team” has continued to expand the programs since her arrival, she added.
Originally from Colombia, Smith moved to Canada to attend the University of Toronto, where she received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in industrial engineering. She then earned a Master of Business Administration from Penn’s Wharton School.
“My immigration and educational experiences have shaped my outlook on life,” Smith wrote. “I truly believe you can reach your dreams if you work hard and seize new opportunities when they present themselves.”
Smith worked in private industry for over 20 years before joining SPS in 2015 as the inaugural director for the master’s program in technology leadership. Her corporate background, Smith said, has influenced the way she develops curricula for SPS programs.
“I know how important it is for education to be practical, (be) scalable and solve the challenges companies face,” she explained.
In her new position as interim dean, Smith hopes to expand access to SPS’s educational programs by working with other organizations and institutions, and by building relationships with other University schools and departments.
“Whether it’s a degree or certificate program or a short specialized skill-based workshop, my goal is for SPS to be an innovator in providing various learning options that allow learners to engage in different ways,” she wrote, adding that she hopes to “reach new learners at every career stage.”
Smith also hopes to nurture community at SPS by engaging with alumni and “deepening the integration of the graduate student population into the fabric of Brown,” she wrote.
Outside of the University, Smith serves on the Board of Trustees for the Wheeler School and is a commissioner and treasurer for the I-195 Redevelopment District Commission.
In her free time, Smith enjoys salsa dancing and is an animal lover. At one point, her family had more than 10 pets: “Pairs of dogs, frogs, hermit crabs, turtles, guinea pigs, you name it,” Smith wrote.
Smith’s “collaborative leadership style, extensive industry experience and commitment to academic excellence make her the ideal choice to lead the School of Professional Studies during this transitionary period,” wrote Erin Spear, director of marketing and communications for SPS, in a statement to The Herald on behalf of the school.
Sandi Ferretti, the program director for the master’s of healthcare leadership, wrote that Smith will “bring her amazing energy and enthusiasm to this role in support of students here at Brown.”
Ian Ritter is a senior staff writer covering graduate schools and students. He is a sophomore from New Jersey studying Chemistry and International and Public Affairs. When he’s not at the Herald, you can find him playing clarinet or explaining the rules of kickball to confused listeners.
