|
Jerry L. Smith
is Director of the Center for Regional & Community Development at
Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. His programs serve as the
Delta's "University Center," which is a project of the U.S. Economic
Development Administration. The Center is headquartered off-campus
at facilities at the Jonesboro Airport.
The University Center serves
to link communities with resources available through the university.
His work includes coordination of a variety of technical assistance
services that help local groups develop their community from within.
His Center also administers a nationally recognized rural community
leadership training program called the Regional Leaders Program.
Since 1990, Jerry has also
served as the executive secretary of the Northeast Arkansas Development
Council. He is Secretary and President-elect of the Jonesboro University
Rotary Club.
Other past and present board
memberships include the National Association of Management & Technical
Assistance Centers, the Mid South Delta Consortium of higher education
outreach programs, the Governor's Partnership for Families and Children
and the Transitional Employment Assistance (TEA) Coalition in Craighead
County, Nonprofit Resources, Inc., the Arkansas Community Development
Society, the state chapter of the American Planning Association,
the Network of Arkansas Leadership Opportunities as president in
1992-93, the International Community Development Society, and executive
secretary of the Industrial Developers of Arkansas.
Before coming to ASU, he
was a Community Development Specialist with the Arkansas Industrial
Development Commission where he was responsible for eighteen counties
in north and east Arkansas. Other past positions include Head Planner
for the Arkansas Department of Correction, and Head Planner for
the Central Arkansas Development Council.
Jerry holds a B.A. in political
science from Ouachita Baptist University. He attended graduate school
at Indiana University and at Sydney University in Australia as a
Rotary Graduate Fellow. Out of state he has worked as a consultant
in economic development for the American Association of State Colleges
and Universities, the Foundation for the Mid South, and the Texas
rural leadership program.
Jerry and his wife Betty
Ann live in Jonesboro with their teenage daughter, Laura-Marie.
Contact Information
Jerry L. Smith, Director
EDA University Center for Regional & Community Development
Arkansas State University
4110 Lindberg Jonesboro, Arkansas 72401
870-972-3850
Fax 870-972-3806
jerry@astate.edu
|
