She also serves on the Commission on Adult Learning and Educational Credentials of the American Council on Education, as board member of the Institute for Community College Development at Cornell University, as a charter member of the Educational Testing Service’s National Community College Advisory Council, on the Governor’s Work Force Investment Board, on the executive committee of the Maryland Association of Community Colleges and as a board member of the Greater Baltimore Committee. In May 2007, she joined the board of the Annapolis and Anne Arundel Chamber of Commerce.

Much of AACC’s success has its roots in some of Dr. Smith’s first actions as AACC president. In her inaugural address, she announced her focus on putting “Students First!” which is still the college’s slogan.

The other major achievement of those first years was her work with faculty, staff, students and the community to bring to fruition a five-year strategic plan that charted a clear, focused direction for the future of the college. The two main themes of that first strategic plan underscored the college commitment to meeting community needs and ensuring student success. She has followed up to lead the college to a second five-year strategic plan. The plans reaffirm AACC’s vision as a premier learning institution whose students and graduates are among the best prepared citizens and workers of the world

Dr. Smith has led realignment of the college administrative structure to better meet the needs of students, the workforce and county residents. During her tenure, the college launched a state-of-the-art instructional technology program and forged major business and education training alliances.

She has presided over an extensive, ongoing new building construction and facilities renovation program. For example, the college opened its 97,000-square-feet Center for Applied Learning and Technology Aug. 25, 2004 on the Arnold campus in time for fall classes. AACC opened the four-story AACC at Arundel Mills facility Aug. 4, 2003 and a completely renovated Student Union on the Arnold campus in fall 2003.

Celebrating Dr. Smith's achievements in higher education, the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations (NCMPR) named her its 2006 District Pacesetter of the Year. She was named by the Daily Record as one of the Power Elite in 2003 and one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women three times -- the maximum allowed, in 1998, 2000 and 2002.

The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Awards Dinner committee named Dr. Smith as one of its 2002 Fannie Lou Hamer Award recipients. The award honors women who keep the feminist and civil rights activist’s legacy alive through their words, deeds and actions.

In April 2001, Dr. Smith shared the National Council for Continuing Education and Training National Leadership Award – Inside the Field with Andrew L. Meyer, Ed.D., AACC vice president for learning, for outstanding leadership in developing continuing education, workforce development, community services and distance learning opportunities. That same year, Dr. Smith co-authored an NCCET abstract on the learning college, "Leveling the Playing Field Through a Commitment to Learning," with Meyer and William J. Flynn, editor of the Catalyst newsletter.

Actively involved with civic and business organizations in Anne Arundel County, Dr. Smith received Anne Arundel County Tech Council’s 2005 Good Apple Award. She also was the Leadership Anne Arundel Flagship program’s 2001 Community Trustee. She chaired the 1999 Anne Arundel County United Way Campaign. The AAACCC named Dr. Smith its Business Leader of the Year for 1996-97 and, in 1995, the YWCA of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County honored her as one of the county's First Women in Education.

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