Smart named director of new center devoted to faculty scholarship

Grand Valley State University chemistry Professor Robert P. Smart has been selected by the College of Interdisciplinary Studies as the founding director of the new Center for Scholarly and Creative Excellence. The Center proposed by the Academic Senate in 2005 was approved by Provost Gayle Davis this past academic year. The new center will work closely with the university’s research and development and the grants office and other college committees supporting scholarly activity.

The new center will provide workshops on developing a scholarly agenda, help with scholarly publication, mentoring by senior faculty, assistance in finding collaborations, lectures and discussions on scholarly and creative practice, and colloquia featuring outstanding scholarship and work in progress. Smart also hopes the center will also be able to increase public recognition of Grand Valley's faculty achievement.

This summer Smart will learn about the current scope of scholarship and creativity of Grand Valley faculty, talk with faculty across the university about their scholarly agendas, visit other similar centers across the country and talk with their directors, and explore resources needed by the center. He will propose a direction for the Center services to the academic community in the fall.

Smart is a full professor of chemistry with a Ph.D. from MSU. He brings a strong record of excellent teaching and research to the position. He received the Glenn A. Niemeyer Award (2008), State of Michigan Governors ACE Award (2005) Small Business Association Innovations Award (2004), the Outstanding Teaching Award (2001), and the Pew Teaching award (2001).