Rodney K. Smith (10 May 1951 – 26 July 2020) was an American academic and the 6th president of Southern Virginia University (SVU) (2004-2011).

[1] After retiring from SVU, he served as a Distinguished Professor of Law and director of the Sports Law and Policy Center at the Thomas Jefferson School of Law (2011-2014),[2] a Distinguished Professor of Practice and director of the Sports Law and Business Program at the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law (2014-2016),[3] and as the David and Laurea Stirling Professor of Constitutional Studies and director of the Center for Constitutional Studies at Utah Valley University (2016-2020).

Smith was a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and a lifelong academic.

[7] Smith also served as a member of the board of trustees of the American Academy of Liberal Education.

[5] Smith received honorary doctorates from Capital University (2002) and SVU (2012).