Online Edition | Washington State University | Pullman, Washington | Friday, February 8, 2002

Board of Regents
Education center renamed

The Board of Regents has named Washington State University’s newest building, the Center for Undergraduate Education, after WSU President Emeritus Samuel H. Smith.

The Samuel H. Smith Center for Undergraduate Education, which opened in January, will be dedicated in May.

Regent William Marler said the center is a "tribute to Sam’s vision," with programs that are "world-class." President V. Lane Rawlins called the new name a fitting tribute and will stand as a monument for Smith’s accomplishments in higher education.

Smith attended the meeting and acknowledged he was deeply honored. "The quality of undergraduate education is what is it’s all about," Smith said.

WSU’s eighth president, Smith led the university from 1985 to 2000. Under his leadership, WSU’s teaching, research and public service activities received world recognition. He strengthened undergraduate and graduate education, placed an international imprint on programs, and created urban campuses in Spokane, the Tri-Cities and Vancouver.

A California native, Smith, 61, is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley. He became WSU’s president after serving as dean of the College of Agriculture of Pennsylvania State University. He now resides in Seattle.