The School of Media and Journalism at Kent State joins family, friends and colleagues mourning the death of Professor Emeritus Tim Smith, who died Oct. 2, 2023.
Smith’s career spanned law and journalism. He joined Kent State University in 1986 after working at the Akron Beacon Journal for 19 years, including as managing editor. Within the School of Media and Journalism, he served in several roles, including acting director, Daily Kent Stater adviser and faculty member. In 2000, Smith won the Distinguished Teaching Award, Kent State’s highest teaching honor. While on leave from the University in 1991, Smith served as a law clerk for then-Ohio Supreme Court Justice J. Craig Wright. He also worked in the Portage County Public Defender's Office while on professional leave in 2003, representing indigent clients in municipal and common pleas courts.
Smith retired from Kent State University in 2012. He was generous in his support of the School of Media and Journalism over the years, contributing to various philanthropic initiatives, including scholarships.