Presbyterian College business administration professor reflects on 40 years of teaching, research, and community
For Dr. Suzanne Smith, the Robert M. Vance Professor of Business Administration, Presbyterian College has served her as a student and she has served it as an educator for more than four decades now.
After graduating from PC in 1982 and earning her Ph.D. at Clemson University, Smith returned to the Blue Hose as a professor aided by the encouragement of retired PC economics professor, Dr. Fred Chapman.
As she enters year 40 of teaching at PC, Smith continues to build meaningful connections with her students and fellow staff members – nothing unfamiliar to her as a PC alumna.
A PC Homecoming
Smith describes how valuable it has been to both learn and teach at PC. Looking back on her time as a student, she remembers the meaningful connections she made with her professors and strives to create those same connections with her students today.
“I knew what it was like when I was a student, and I could really get to know my professors,” Smith said.
Honors research has always been a passion for Smith and today working with students on just that is one of her favorite parts of the job. Smith understands the potential of a student at PC and pushes them to reach that potential and beyond.
I think college is a great time to explore. There are so many things you learn about yourself when you’re at college, especially if you’re away from home, and you get to be your own independent person.”
Dr. Suzie Smith, Robert M. Vance Professor of Business Administration
Data Made Meaningful
For Smith, data analytics has always been one of the top academic interests, and even more so in today’s age.
During her sabbatical last spring, Smith examined the ability of artificial intelligence in relation to data visualization. She used Excel data and told five different AI models to produce three different types of charts. The results? A wide range of visualizations that were quite surprising. Some were okay, she said, and some completely failed. None of the AI models used Excel as proficiently as an experienced human. She went on to present this research at a conference.
Taking her research into the classroom, Smith enjoys incorporating hands-on activities into her teaching. She likes to do this through Excel learning as well as presentations.
“At the end of the class, they probably aren’t going to remember much about what they were taking tests on. They’ll remember their presentations,” Smith said.
Becoming Independent Through Faith
During Smith’s time at PC, her faith truly became her own. She grew up in a faith-based home but it wasn’t until college that she felt she really learned what it meant to live out her faith. And when she did, it became the center.
“I grew up in a Christian home, but I did not understand how to make my faith my own until I was in college, and got into Bible study, and that just really became alive to me then,” Smith said.
Smith encourages students to use college as a time to explore their faith and identity.
“I think college is a great time to explore,” Smith said. “There are so many things you learn about yourself when you’re at college, especially if you’re away from home, and you get to be your own independent person.”
Hope for the Future
While Smith’s students are learning new things, so is she. She is teaching “International Business” for the first time this fall and preparing to teach a new course, “Service Excellence” in the spring.
She said the course will emphasize how to create an environment of great service across organizations.
“You know, 80 percent of our GDP, almost, is in the service economy,” Smith said. “There’s good service and there’s great service and we all know the difference.”
Smith aims for her students to learn to generate great service and implement that into their future careers.
