It is with profound sadness that UNLV announces the passing of Dr. Ronald W. Smith, vice president for research and dean of the Graduate College. Dr. Smith passed away June 23 following a long illness.
Dr. Smith arrived at UNLV in 1972 as an assistant professor in the sociology department and just recently completed his 40th year at UNLV. During his time at UNLV, Smith was a prodigious scholar, an excellent teacher and mentor to his students, and one known for always stepping up to serve the UNLV community when called upon.
He served the university in many administrative capacities, including department chair, assistant dean of the College of Arts and Letters, dean of the Graduate College, interim senior vice president and provost, interim president, and most recently vice president for research and graduate dean. During his long career at UNLV, he directed several research centers, served as the president of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi Chapter 100, and won numerous teaching and community awards.
“Ron was a close friend and mentor. He had the highest aspirations for UNLV and Las Vegas and his vision changed our campus in deep and abiding ways,” said UNLV President Neal Smatresk. “This is a loss for UNLV and our community. We all miss him, and extend our sympathies to his wife, Susan, and his family.”
It was Dr. Smith’s dedication to advanced studies that enabled the Graduate College to flourish. Under his stewardship as dean of the Graduate College, UNLV established more than 60 doctoral and master’s degrees to serve the community. He created the office of research integrity and was a champion for graduate students, fighting to increase graduate scholarships, fellowships, and stipends.
Long before sustainability was a fashionable concept, Dr. Smith recognized its significance. He realized the importance of building connections and creating a sense of community, which he did admirably. His academic specializations were community and urban sociology, community sustainability, architectural sociology, and organizational performance. He was the founding executive director of UNLV’s Urban Sustainability Initiative, which focuses on the Las Vegas metropolitan area, Nevada, and the Southwest.
Dr. Smith had a long and distinguished publication record. He published three books and more than 30 journal articles and book chapters. He also presented more than 50 papers at professional conferences, received numerous grants, and was a grant reviewer for the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Dr. Smith is survived by his wife, Susan Thompson; his sister, Eleanor; his daughter, Kelleen Pelligrino, and her husband, Paul; and his granddaughters Zoe and Kate.
The family has established the Ron Smith and Susan Thompson Scholarship Fund through the UNLV Foundation, which will support students in sociology, anthropology and foreign languages.
A memorial service will be held at UNLV Sept. 28 at 4 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom.
The family has established the Ron Smith and Susan Thompson Scholarship Fund through the UNLV Foundation. The fund will support students in sociology, anthropology, and foreign languages.
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Comments
Another loss to the university. After 18 years of seeing his standout performance as an administrator, Dr. Smith was head and shoulders above many others. Yes, he was overworked. Seeing multiple changes to 7th floor over the years in "getting the work done", staff would go away but the work did not. He was "lifer"; these dedicated year after year people who are working at UNLV giving everything they have to make UNLV better. I also know his dear wife, Susan Thompson, and send my heartfelt condolences in this time of great loss for her and the family.
I was stunned and very sad to learn of Ron's death. I arrived at UNLV in the fall of 1977 in the sociology department. I came to know Ron well over the years and continued to have contact with him after the criminal justice program became a separate department. When I became chair of that department, I sought Ron's advice, who at that time was the chair of the sociology department. His counsel was extremely helpful to me. Over the years he has been a valuable member of the university and an all around nice person. My thoughts go out to his wife, Susan. It will be with a sad heart when I attend his funeral in the fall.
Randall G. Shelden
Criminal Justice Department
I have had the privilege of serving and studying as one of Ron Smith's graduate students in the Urban Sustainability Initiative. He was all these things as a researcher, professor and university vice president, but he was also a guy who was very easy to get along with, with a terrific sense of humor. His legacy will live on at the UNLV he helped build - a diverse, unique and evolving public university for one of the most dynamic cities on Earth.