Main navigation

Matt Smith

Dean and Director, Ohio State Newark
Photo portrait of Matt Smith

Matthew J. Smith, PhD assumed the role of dean and director of Ohio State Newark on Aug. 1, 2024. With his appointment, Smith will spearhead efforts at Ohio State Newark to align campus priorities and further strengthen the university’s commitment to student success, innovation in teaching and learning, research opportunities, and community engagement.  

Smith formerly served as dean of the College of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences at Radford University, a comprehensive public university in Radford, Virginia, where he was also a professor of communication. In his deanship at Radford, Smith led the university’s largest college, which includes about 120 full-time faculty and up to 2,200 students. The college includes a school, eight departments, four interdisciplinary programs and Army ROTC.  

Prior to joining Radford in 2018, Smith held leadership and faculty roles at Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio. He served in various leadership roles at Wittenberg, including as Department of Communication chair, co-director of communication and business leadership experience, and director of cinema studies.  

A native of Wheeling, West Virginia, Smith earned his PhD in interpersonal communication and his Master of Arts in English from Ohio University, and his Bachelor of Arts in English from West Liberty State College. As a scholar, he has published 12 books and co-edits an ongoing international book series.


Executive Assistant

Nichole Lengle    
740-366-9211    
lengle.3@osu.edu