Smith was born in Memphis, Tennessee, where he graduated from Melrose High School.
[1] Smith worked for 34 years at DuPont, first as a research chemist and subsequently in marketing.
[5][6] Smith was appointed acting president of Delaware State University in 2008 after the resignation of Allen Sessoms.
[8] He also served at the state level on the Leadership and Assistance for Science Education Reform Advisory Board and the Delaware Council on Crime and Justice and was a member of the board of directors of the Fair Housing Council of Delaware.
In 2006 he received the Distinguished Service Award of the National Association of State Boards of Education.