LaTonia Collins Smith was appointed interim provost and vice president of academic affairs at Harris-Stowe State University in St. Louis, Missouri.
Harris-Stowe State University enrolls just over 1,700 students, according to the latest statistics provided to the U.S. Department of Education. African Americans make up 82 percent of the student body.
Dr. Collins Smith began her career in higher education at Harris-Stowe State University in 2010 as an academic counselor. She has served as executive director of the Center for Career Engagement and since 2016 she has been assistant provost. She is credited with rebranding of the university’s career services and academic advising departments, university-wide math pathway implementation and oversight of more than $5.2 million in grant awards. Dr. Collins Smith is the co-principal investigator of a $5 million National Science Foundation grant to substantially strengthen STEM in the state of Missouri, the largest grant in the history of the university.
Dr. Collins Smith is a graduate of the University of Central Missouri, where she majored in social work. She holds a master of social work degree and a master of public health degree from Saint Louis University. She earned an educational doctorate in higher education leadership from Maryville University in St. Louis.
We are so very proud of our niece and the difference she makes every day in the lives of others. Harris-Stowe has made a choice that will continue to reverberate throughout the community. Her commitment and energy is never ending. Students will benefit, staff will benefit and indeed the professorial staff will continue to march toward outstanding academic success.