Walter S. Smith

Texas Tech University is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Walter Smith to the College of Education in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction.  He will begin his duties as Professor occupying the Helen DeVitt Jones Foundation Endowed Professorship and Department Chair in August.

After completing a B.S. in biology at Cornell University and M.S.Ed. in student personnel and Ph.D. in science education at Indiana University, Smith taught at the Universities of Kansas (1972-94) and Akron (1994-99) and Ball State University from 1999 to 2006.

He has taught elementary, middle, secondary and collegiate science teaching methods courses as well as worked with K-12 in-service teachers, taught graduate courses and directed doctoral dissertations.
In line with his research interests, he formed the I.V. STEM (International Virtual Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Classroom Coalition, comprised of faculty from seven universities on three continents exploring uses of computer technology for science and mathematics instruction around the world.  He also has had a long-standing interest in equity issues, especially the participation and academic success of women and Native American students in science.

Over the past 30 years Smith has served several national and international science education groups.  He was President of the Council for Elementary Science International, Secretary-Treasurer of the Society for College Science Teachers, and Executive Secretary of the Association for Science Teacher Education.  He was a member of the Board of Directors and Executive Board of the National Science Teachers Association.  He represented NSTA to the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) in several capacities, including membership on the Board of Examiners and NCATE governing boards.

In 1993 Smith received the Distinguished Service to Science Education citation from the National Science Teachers Association; and in 1996 at The White House he received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring.

Smith is married to Caryl Kelley Smith, formerly Vice President of Student Affairs at the University of Akron and Southeast Missouri State University and Dean of Student Life at the University of Kansas.  They have one son, Russell Scott Smith, a freelance writer in New York City.