Events
Dr. John L. Smith's Book Signing
Join us for an afternoon celebrating the launch of newest book, They Taught Me How to Be the Man I Am. Enjoy an invigorating and stimulating afternoon with refreshments and light hors d'oeuvres, followed by a conversation with the author.
Date: Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024
Time: 2 - 4:30 pm
Location: USF Tampa Campus, Alumni Center
Meet the Author
Dr. John L. Smith, Jr. served as the first Black dean at the University of South Florida before retiring for another pinnacle position: president of Fisk University. His 30-plus years at USF included teaching, working as an administrator and serving for 12 years as the Dean of the College of Fine Arts. After leading Fisk, he retired back to Tampa and has authored a new book: They Taught Me How To Be The Man I Am.
They Taught Me How To Be The Man I Am is a memoir about mentors and mentees in which he pays tribute to those men who guided and nurtured him on his storied journey from the Deep South to the upper echelons of academia. It includes a chapter on his principal USF mentor, Dr. Donald Saff, the professional artist, GraphicStudio founder, and former arts dean who appointed Dr. Smith to his first administrative position and nurtured his subsequent development.
In addition to being USF’s first tuba professor, Dr. Smith founded the Committee on Black Affairs (COBA) and was instrumental in establishing IBL and building the Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza on campus. As Dean of Fine Arts, he acquired gifts for three endowed chairs, including in African art. He also established annual alumni awards and increased international programs. He actively pursued campus and community outreach efforts embracing all students and constituents.
Dr. Smith served as a professional tubist with several orchestras, including the Aspen Music Festival Orchestra, the Oklahoma City Symphony and the Florida Orchestra. His service includes a stint as a musician in the Navy.
Dr. Smith contributed to the Tampa Bay community by serving on numerous boards including the Hillsborough Arts Council, the Tampa Museum of Art, and Tampa Prep Academy. He and his wife, Dr. Juel Smith, continue to give generous through the Juel Hickman Shannon Smith Endowed Scholarship for students majoring in Africana Studies or Elementary Education and The John L. Smith Endowed COTA Scholarship, awarded annually for a student recipient in the College of the Arts.
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