Gordon State College names Dr. Charles M. Smith as the Dean of the School of Business and Professional Studies. In his new role, he will oversee daily operations, manage faculty recruitment and development, coordinate curriculum planning, and support student success initiatives.

Smith has more than a decade of experience in higher education, with a background in teaching, instructional management, and administration. He also brings extensive expertise in financial management, business analysis, and the integration of new technologies, having held various leadership roles throughout his career. In addition to his academic experience, he has a strong background in international business, spending time in China and Europe negotiating acquisitions and mergers.

“I am excited to join [GSC] and share my professional expertise in business with new and innovative learners,” Smith said. “My focus will be on recruitment, growing the School of Business and Professional Studies, and building strong partnerships. I am also committed to developing programs that align with industry standards, ensuring our graduates are well-prepared to compete in the job market.”

Before joining Highlander Nation, Smith served as academic dean for the Division of Business and Mathematics at Blinn College District in Texas. Previously, he was the business chair and associate professor of management at South Georgia State College, where he developed and implemented the institution’s first Bachelor of Science in Management degree program with concentrations in organizational behavior and marketing.

A native of Sacramento and a resident of Atlanta, Smith earned a Ph.D. in organization and management from Capella University, an MBA in finance from Dallas Baptist University, and a BBA from Texas Wesleyan University. He also completed the Executive Management Program at the Yale School of Management. His research on business ethics in accounting has earned recognition from the American Accounting Association and KPMG as the top study on gender issues and work-life balance in the field in 2008.