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Suzie Smith, Ph.D.

Robert M. Vance Professor of Business Administration
Business Administration

Education

Ph.D., Industrial Management, Clemson University
B.E., Civil Engineering, Vanderbilt University
B.S., Math-Physics, Presbyterian College

Research or Areas of Specialty

Honors research provides a whole new world of discovery, particularly in data analytics as there are so many datasets available online. My students’ recent honors research topics have ranged from higher education data analysis to sports analytics to applied queuing theory. My academic work in operations management, statistical analysis, and data visualization supports my interests research interests.

Here’s a sample of recent student projects:

  • Fall 2025: Vanessa Palisin, “The Contract Effect: Why NHL Players Perform Differently When Money Is on the Line.”
  • Fall 2025: Paige Wehrmeister, “Institutional Influences on Competitive Success in Collegiate Women’s Wrestling: A Data-Driven Analysis.”
  • Fall 2025: Isabel Whitman, “What Drives the WNBA? Identifying Key Trends in Performance, Engagement, and League Growth.”
  • Fall 2023: Avery Long, “Examination of Collegiate Football Impacts on Institutional Visibility.”
  • Spring 2024: Emily Whitaker, “Queues in Customer Service.”
  • Fall 2022: Seth Cooper, “Examination of the Effects of Faculty Compensation and Level of Experience on Student Outcomes at 4-Year Southern Colleges and Universities.”

Recognitions

  • Southeast Decision Sciences Institute Distinguished Service Award, 2026
  • Presbyterian College Professor of the Year, 2001
  • Presbyterian College Outstanding Young Alumna Award, 1999

Classes at PC

  • Operations & Supply Chain Management
  • Management & Organizational Behavior
  • International Business
  • Data Visualization
  • Service Excellence

Organizations

  • Southeast Decision Sciences Institute (SE DSI)
    • Distinguished Service Award, 2026
    • Council member, 2019-Present
    • President, 2018
    • Program Chair, 2016
  • Decision Sciences Institute (DSI) member
  • Clinton SC YMCA Board Member

Recent Publications

Southeast Decision Sciences Institute conference paper, “Bringing Culture to Life: Lessons from a Cross-Cultural Business Communication Course in Scotland,” February 2026.

Southeast Decision Sciences Institute conference presentation, “Comparing and Evaluating Five AI Tools in Data Visualization,” February 2026.

Decision Sciences Institute conference presentation (with Bradley Meyer), “Crunching the Numbers: Process Capability in Every Snack,” November 2025.

Southeast Decision Sciences Institute conference presentation, “The Impact of Acquired Podcasts on Students’ Final Projects in Strategic Management Class,” February 2025.

Southeast Decision Sciences Institute conference presentation, “Exploring a New Personality Assessment with Strategic Management Students and Teams,” February 2024.

About Suzie Smith

The best part of teaching is getting to know my students and helping them recognize potential they may not yet see in themselves. Drawing on my background in math, engineering, statistics, and business, I enjoy combining interesting datasets, looking for patterns, and helping students turn data into meaningful stories. My recent interests include international business data, College Scorecard and IPEDS data, data visualization, and the thoughtful use of AI to make class projects more creative, engaging, and useful. I also enjoy exploring customer service, performance management, and how personality differences influence teamwork.

Some of the most memorable learning happens outside the traditional classroom. I have especially enjoyed traveling with PC students around the world, most recently to Scotland, where we explored castles, visited cities and businesses, and met many delightful people.
My husband and I have one daughter. We enjoy church activities, working out at the YMCA, traveling, and planning our next trip to Disney World.