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President

Michael Smith was named president of The Washington Center in December 2004. Mike had first joined The Washington Center in 1976 when a staff of six served 300 students from 30 colleges annually. Today The Washington Center serves over 2,000 students annually with a staff of 75. Mike has served in various capacities within the organization, including Director of Student Services, Vice President of Administration and Student Life, Vice President of Operations, Senior Vice President, and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, before his appointment as president.

Under Mike’s leadership and in collaboration with his 75 colleagues at TWC, enrollment has grown by over 5% per year for the past four years. Over 50% of the The Washington Center’s enrollments are women, over 22% are students of diverse backgrounds and 15% are international. In 2009, The Washington Center was able to provide over $1 million dollars of financial assistance to its students. Corporate, foundation and individual contributions and pledges to TWC’s comprehensive five-year campaign now total $11,000,000 toward the $15,000,000 goal with two years remaining. State-funded scholarships and federal grants and stipends grew by more than 15% over the past two years to $5,500,000 in additional aid transferred to students.

A strategic plan was recently developed that embraces the three pillars of The Washington Center – professional achievement, civic engagement and leadership. Additionally, The Washington Center has developed new and exciting programs, both in Washington, D.C., and abroad, that are designed to increase the emphasis on international student participation, including the U.S.-China Bilateral Trade Program funded by Boeing Corporation, the Ford Motor Company Global Scholars Program and Prudential Foundation Global Citizens Program.

Recently, Mike has worked to add several distinguished new members to The Washington Center’s Board of Directors including former Congressman, House Majority Leader and presidential candidate Dick Gephardt; Dr. Michelle Cooper, president of the Institute for Higher Education Policy; and John Hotchkis, president of Ramajal LLC have joined 25 other Directors in serving on The Washington Center’s governing board. Also established was a new Council of Presidents composed of prominent leaders of affiliated colleges and universities and an International Advisory Board composed of a council of ambassadors who are providing advice and assistance as we branch out to other countries.

Before joining The Washington Center, Mike worked for five years as a student counselor and resource teacher in the Norwood, Massachusetts public schools. He also served in the armed services and is a Vietnam veteran of the U.S. Navy (1969-71). He received his Master's degree in education from the University of Massachusetts-Boston, his Bachelor's degree in history from Ohio Northern University and an associate's degree from Dean College.

An active alumnus of Ohio Northern University, Mike has served on the College of Arts and Sciences Board of Advisors since 1989. Mike also serves on the Board of Directors of the NOMA Business Improvement District. NOMA is the area directly north of the U.S. Capitol where The Washington Center is building a $38,000,000 academic and residential facility for its students. Mike and his wife, Barbara, live in Washington, D.C., and have two grown children, both alumni of The Washington Center.