Michael Wade Smith
Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff
As senior vice president and chief of staff at Penn State, Michael Wade Smith works as a strategic partner to President Neeli Bendapudi overseeing a team dedicated to supporting her priorities and University strategic initiatives.
In this leadership role, Smith facilitates high-priority efforts to implement the vision, strategies and goals of the president in advancing Penn State’s mission and interests, as well as provides executive oversight of staff involved in projects in order to maximize relationships with key constituents and individuals. As a senior executive, Smith coordinates efforts across the University and performs executive functions on behalf of the president, in the president’s absence and when the president is not immediately available.
In this role, Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff Smith:
- Provides counsel and assists Bendapudi in overseeing the strategic direction and momentum of the University;
- Plans and directs administrative, financial and operational activities for the Office of the President;
- Facilitates the coordination of the President’s Council and University leaders to align operations and special projects across the institution;
- Provides expertise and supervisory oversight for the strategic initiatives of Bendapudi and the Office of the President;
- Serves as a presidential liaison with University stakeholders and constituents; and
- Builds relationships and fosters connections within and beyond the Penn State community.
About
Michael Wade Smith, EdD, has dedicated his career to higher education leadership and has served as a chief of staff and adviser to both president and provost at Penn State, University of Louisville and University of Kansas since 2017. With a demonstrated ability to organize and inspire cross-disciplinary teams, Smith has led efforts over the years in key areas including strategic planning; community outreach and communications; academic affairs; employee success and development; and diversity, equity and inclusion.
Prior to coming to Penn State in 2022, Smith served as vice president for external affairs and chief of staff for President Neeli Bendapudi at the University of Louisville. In this role, Smith oversaw the Office of the President, Employee Success Center, and the offices of Government Relations, Community Engagement, and Communications and Marketing. He led major enterprise projects, helped to secure investment that facilitated the acquisition of a local health care system, and executed the institutional strategic planning process.
“Penn State is an incredible institution, and I am honored to serve this wonderful community of students, faculty, staff and alumni. Together, we can continue to advance Penn State’s impact here in Pennsylvania and around the globe.”
Michael Wade Smith
Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff, Penn State
Previously at the University of Kansas, Smith was chief of staff in the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor, executive director of marketing and advancement in the provost’s office, and chief marketing officer and director of external affairs in the School of Business.
Smith has provided diversity, equity and inclusion consulting and training services for higher education, nonprofit and corporate clients, and has presented in more than 40 states as a keynote speaker, strategic planning facilitator and leadership trainer.
Active in the arts and business communities in Louisville, Smith has served on the boards of the Speed Art Museum, the Actors Theatre of Louisville and Louisville’s chamber of commerce. In 2019, he was named to Louisville Business First’s “40 Under 40” class.
He earned a doctor of education degree in higher education management from the University of Pennsylvania and a MBA in marketing and supply chain management and a bachelor of arts degree in English literature and American studies, both from the University of Kansas.
Contact
Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff //
Michael Wade Smith
Email: mws@psu.edu
Phone: 814-865-7611
Office of the President //
Please direct inquiries for the president to:
Office of the President
The Pennsylvania State University
201 Old Main
University Park, PA 16802
Email: president@psu.edu
Phone: 814-865-7611
Fax: 814-863-8583