UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State has appointed Michael Wade Smith to the newly created position of senior vice president and chief of staff, effective March 5. Smith comes to Penn State from the University of Louisville, where he served as vice president for external affairs and chief of staff under Penn State President-elect Neeli Bendapudi.
Smith will report directly to Bendapudi and serve as a member of her executive leadership team.
“Michael is a trusted adviser and has been a key member of my leadership teams at the University of Louisville and at the University of Kansas, and I am thrilled that he has agreed to join me at Penn State,” said Bendapudi. “He brings tremendous energy, creativity, and interpersonal and organizational skills to the table, and I think the Penn State community will enjoy getting to know him. My gratitude to President Barron for approving this important position and Michael’s appointment, as Michael will be instrumental in the presidential transition process and play a prominent role in my administration.”
Among his initial responsibilities as chief of staff, Smith will provide counsel and assist the president in overseeing the strategic direction and momentum of the University; plan and direct all administrative, financial and operational activities for the Office of the President; facilitate the coordination of the executive team, leadership team and staff to align operations as well as special projects across the institution; provide expertise and supervisory oversight for the strategic initiatives of the president and the president’s office; and serve as a presidential liaison with University stakeholders and constituents.
“Penn State is an incredible institution, and I am honored and excited to join this exceptional community,” said Smith. “I am grateful to President Barron and to President-elect Bendapudi for the opportunity to serve, and I am excited to get to work. I have already met so many wonderful students, faculty, staff and alumni, and I look forward to working together in support of Dr. Bendapudi’s vision and goals for advancing Penn State’s impact here in Pennsylvania — and around the globe.”
At the University of Louisville, Smith led, supervised and strategically directed the Office of the President, the Employee Success Center, and the offices of Government Relations, Community Engagement, and Communications and Marketing. He headed two major enterprise projects — a content management system upgrade and full-enterprise website update, and a brand positioning and campaign project to reposition Louisville in the competitive marketplace. He also helped to secure investment from the commonwealth of Kentucky that facilitated the acquisition of a local health care system and led to the creation of UofL Health. He also organized and executed Louisville’s institutional strategic planning process.
Previously, Smith was Bendapudi’s chief of staff in the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor at the University of Kansas, where he oversaw the planning and execution of major initiatives and served as an adviser for other senior leaders, including deans and vice provosts. He also served as executive director of marketing and advancement in the provost’s office, where he led strategic communications and branding initiatives.
Before joining the provost’s office, Smith was chief marketing officer and director of external affairs in the School of Business at the University of Kansas. In this role, he led a team responsible for the strategy development and tactical execution of advertising, public relations, recruitment marketing, event communications, web development, annual giving, donor stewardship, and other initiatives that showcased the School of Business to internal and external constituencies. He also was responsible for developing brand strategy, served as head spokesperson and primary media contact, and managed projects ranging from the development of a mobile app to a shift to a digital-first publication strategy.
In addition, Smith has provided diversity, equity and inclusion consulting and training services for higher education, nonprofit and corporate clients, and he has presented in more than 40 states as a keynote speaker, strategic planning facilitator and leadership trainer.
Smith was active in the arts and business communities in Louisville, serving on the boards of the Speed Art Museum, the Actors Theatre of Louisville, and Louisville’s chamber of commerce, Greater Louisville Inc. In 2019, he was named to Louisville Business First’s “40 Under 40” class.
Smith earned a doctor of education degree in higher education management from the University of Pennsylvania and an 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.