Dr. Rick Smith stepped into his new role as president of Dallas College/North Lake Campus on Feb. 3, bringing decades of experience and a deep passion for student success to the position.
From journalism and healthcare to nonprofit leadership and higher education, Smith built a career focused on helping people find their path. He’s bringing that same mission to North Lake.
During a recent interview, Smith shared his personal journey. Born in Okinawa, Japan, he grew up in a military family and lived in several states across the U.S., including Alabama, Maine and Kentucky. His family settled in Louisville where he spent his high school and college years. He graduated from Fern Creek High School and earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Louisville.
“I feel proud of my high school,” he said. “It gave me the foundation I needed.”
After graduating, Smith launched his first career as a TV news reporter, anchor, and producer. He worked in Louisville and later in Cincinnati, Ohio where he received unexpected mentorship from Jerry Springer, who was then a local news anchor.
“Jerry shared his media training with me when I couldn’t afford it myself,” Smith said. “That generosity helped me build confidence early in my career.”
Smith spent eight years in television news, focusing on health topics. His reporting caught the attention of the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and they invited him to lead their media relations team. That opportunity marked the beginning of his second career in healthcare administration.
Over the next 23 years, Smith served as a hospital executive in cities including Cincinnati, Atlanta, Danville, Albany and Louisville. He led departments, supported patient care systems and worked with diverse teams.
In 2016, he made a pivotal career shift. Kentucky State University, a historically Black university, invited him to join their leadership team. He accepted the role.
“Higher education lit a fire in me,” he said. “Helping students succeed is something I’d do even if I didn’t get paid.”
Since that moment, Smith has focused his career on higher education and workforce development. He helped launch the Kentucky College of Art and Design, the state’s only independent art school, blending his love for education with his passion for the arts. Later, he moved to Pennsylvania and helped build the Northern Pennsylvania Regional College from the ground up, serving as Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement.
While building colleges, he continued serving communities. He led a United Way chapter in Ohio, addressing issues like hunger, education, and job training. Back when he was in Kentucky, he earned his doctorate and joined the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, where he led statewide efforts to connect education with workforce needs.
“I worked with colleges, employers and government to help people complete their education and find good jobs,” he said. “That experience shaped the way I think about access and opportunity.”
Smith brings that same student-focused approach to North Lake. He believes community colleges play a vital role in helping students, especially those from marginalized backgrounds, access affordable, high-quality education. “We remove barriers,” he said. “We give people a chance to grow.”
He sees North Lake’s small class sizes, flexible scheduling and supportive staff as key strengths, especially for international students and working adults. “Our college feels like family,” he said. “That personal connection can change everything.”
Smith also wants to shift how people view community colleges. He encourages students to explore fields like healthcare, aviation and construction sciences programs that lead to real careers and stable futures.
“Many students don’t think they’re ‘college material,’” he said. “We need to show them they absolutely are.”
At North Lake Campus, Smith has already started attending events, meeting with students, and listening to their needs.
“I want to be present,” he said. “Students need to know we see them, support them, and believe in them.”He’s also working closely with staff and faculty to build a strong, inclusive campus culture. He believes in shared leadership and wants everyone on campus to play a role in student success. “This isn’t just about me,” he said. “It’s about all of us working together to lift our students up.”
Smith’s journey, from a military kid to a journalist; hospital leader to college president, shows how each experience prepared him for this moment. “Every role taught me something new,” he said. “Now, I’m using all of it to serve students and lead North Lake.”
He chose to come to Texas because he believes in Dallas College’s mission and the opportunity to make a difference. “We have the tools and the talent to help people transform their lives,” he said. “That’s why I’m here.”
