Adam A. Smith “There is in this world no such force as the force of a person determined to rise. The human soul cannot be permanently chained.” - W.E.B. DuBois Company: The University of Akron and CollegeMatters, LLC Location: Akron, Ohio Website: www.whycollegematters.com

Biography:
Adam A. Smith is a dynamic community leader who has spent his career focusing on enhancing the educational opportunities of disadvantaged children and adults. Mr. Smith has earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology and Education from Concordia University, Masters in Educational Administration & Supervision from National-Louis University and is currently pursuing his PhD in Educational Leadership at The University of Akron. He has built programs and initiatives aimed at increasing the educational aspiration, access and success of hundreds of students throughout the Midwest.

Mr. Smith is currently The University of Akron’s first Director of Nationally Competitive Fellowships and the Choose Ohio First – STEM Scholarship program.  Adam has designed and administers a program that provides resources to encourage and support diverse students studying in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and/or Mathematics (STEM).  Prior to moving to Ohio, Adam served as the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Education and Life-Long Learning in Rockford, Illinois. This position within the Senior Staff of the Mayor of Illinois’ second largest city, is responsible for creating educational partnerships, programs, policies and initiatives aimed at decreasing Rockford’s horrific dropout rate and the dismal number of adults who attain a Bachelor’s Degree. The initiatives that Adam has created have increased Rockford Public School attendance rate, decreased chronic truancy by forty percent and resulted in the authorization of the community’s first charter schools. Adam established the state’s first, FREE Teen Enrichment and Engagement facility, nCENTER and founded the nFACTOR Youth Movement that has over 4,000 teen members throughout the Midwest.

Prior to his position with the City of Rockford, Adam worked at Rock Valley College as the College’s Dean of Students and Community Outreach and the Founding Director of its Upward Bound and Workforce Investment Act Youth Programs. Mr. Smith also has an extensive background in community advocacy, empowerment and development through positions at Comprehensive Community Solutions, a major community development corporation and while serving as the Executive Director of the Allied-Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Center in Madison, Wisconsin. He served as Associate Head Football Coach at Rock Valley College for six years and is currently a Professor at Judson University teaching graduate and undergraduate courses in Human Services, Human Resources and Organizational Leadership.

Adam has conducted speeches and presentations on the importance of education, decision-making, African-American History, leadership, and the community’s inability to adequately education children of color at local, state, regional and national conferences. He is a sought after keynote speaker at college and universities, civic groups, leadership organizations and awards ceremonies. Mr. Smith’s ability to relate well with students, educators, community members and college staff in a manner that is both thought provoking and motivational is his strength as a speaker.

Mr. Smith has been recognized by President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Governor of Wisconsin, Tommy Thompson for his service to the community, leadership and commitment to enhancing the educational opportunity of all Americans. He is founder of the educational research and advocacy organization, Allied for Children’s Education and has created organizations aimed at helping disadvantaged students realize their goal of a college degree. Adam is the founder of the nFACTOR youth movement and Rockford’s nCENTER a one-stop-shop enrichment and recreational facility for high school teens. Mr. Smith has created community-wide partnerships that have resulted in major decreases in truancy, the creation of Rockford’s City University, charter public school development and community-wide education reform.

Mr. Smith and his wife, Linda are the owners of CollegeMatters, LLC, a post secondary advising, tutoring, consulting and public speaking firm. Adam has spent his life working with young people as an advocate, mentor, leader and empowering force. He works every day to attack the systems that act as barriers between marginalized populations, educational and life success.

Adam Smith currently resides in Akron, Ohio with his wife and three children.

Availability:
Available to speak to diverse groups of students, educators, civic groups and adults on issues of education, leadership, diversity, motivation, leadership, community empowerment and success.