Arthur K. Smith (born August 15, 1937) is an American academic.

At the time of his appointment, he was the first non-member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to hold the position.

[1] Smith is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy (1959).

He later attended the University of New Hampshire and Cornell University and earned a master's degree in comparative and international politics, as well as a Doctor of Philosophy.

His first teaching job was as a professor of political science at Binghamton.