Brent Smith, the current dean of the school of communication, will step into the role of associate vice president for executive education effective July 1, Provost Alexandra Socarides announced in a community-wide email Thursday morning.
The new position is part of the executive education program of the “Extraordinary Emerson 2030” initiative. The executive education program is scheduled to begin the spring of 2026.
“As Associate Vice President, Dr. Smith will collaborate with colleagues within the college, as well as partners from various industries, to identify, develop, and administer quality, in-demand executive courses and certificates,” Socarides wrote in the email.
This program will offer non-credit courses and micro-credentials to post-baccalaureate professionals looking to increase their expertise in specific areas. Courses will be taught by existing faculty, accomplished alumni, and high-profile professionals in their fields.
“Several years ago, I embarked upon my journey with Emerson, finding it to be an institution and a community with extraordinary potential,” Smith wrote in the message. “In this new role, I hope to help us reveal and realize the full value of that potential.” He declined any further comment to The Beacon.
Smith has led the School of Communication since April 2023, previously serving as interim dean for 10 months and as the department chair for Marketing Communications for three years.
The college will appoint an interim dean for the School of Communication for the 2025-26 academic year while they search for a permanent replacement. Staff and faculty are encouraged to share desired qualities and possible candidates with the provost’s office by April 17.
“I am thrilled that Dr. Smith has agreed to build and lead Executive Education for Emerson,” Socarides wrote in a separate statement to The Beacon. “This is a tremendous opportunity for Emerson in the years ahead and he is the perfect person with the perfect expertise to do this work. President Bernhardt and I are excited to partner with him and support him in this new endeavor.”
