Southeastern bestows emeritus honors at convocation


Wednesday, August 20, 2014 Emeritus honorees
by: Rene Abadie

EMERITUS HONORS PRESENTED – Southeastern Louisiana University President John L. Crain, right, presented emeritus honors to two former vice presidents at the university's recent Faculty-Staff Convocation. Joseph Miller, left, was recognized as Vice President and Professor Emeritus and Stephen Smith was honored as Vice President Emeritus. Both are residents of Hammond and Southeastern alumni.


 

HAMMOND – Two former Southeastern Louisiana University vice presidents were honored with emeritus honors at the university's annual Faculty-Staff Convocation Friday (Aug. 15).

Southeastern President John L. Crain presented the plaques designating emeritus status in recognition of distinguished and extraordinary service to Joseph Miller, former dean of the College of Business and vice president for advancement, and Stephen M. Smith, former vice president for administration and finance. Both are residents of Hammond and alumni of the university.

Miller served the university for 38 years before his retirement in 2008. He joined the faculty in the College of Business in 1970, where he earned promotion to head of the Department of Marketing and Economics and later dean of the college, where he led the college's successful effort to earn national accreditation by AACSB. He joined the university administration as vice president for advancement, where he supervised several major capital campaigns, including the Commitment to Excellence Campaign that raised more than $25 million for academic support. He also led a Campaign for the Visual Arts and the university's fund raising effort to bring back football.

Smith earned both an accounting degree and MBA at Southeastern and spent most of his professional life at the university, starting in 1977 as a financial reporting accountant. He was promoted to assistant controller in 1988 and named controller in 1980. In 1990 he was appointed vice president, a position he held for 22 years. He served as an adviser to several university presidents and was especially called upon for his money management skills during the recent years of dwindling financial resources from the state. Smith retired in 2012 with 35 years of service to the university and continues to serve as part time interim budget director.





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